A little while back, I asked the WCG to represent your city to see how far this Bears Nation site goes. You did!

I think many found it interesting to see and realize, even though we may not all live in Chicago, we are not alone (I know I did). In fact, most of us are not from Chicago or even Illinois. It is great to see the Bears fan base is broad and far reaching. WCG'ers from 22 of the United States and 5 countries commented to let the others know that you are out there, representing your Bears Pride across the world. The "C" logos, GSH patches, memories of Sweetness, thoughts of Ditka and blue and orange is in full effect.

Apologies if I missed anyone, there were almost 300 comments. Now if you happen to know anyone from the Central, West, or Pacific West regions, ask them what their problem is, we all love the Bears!

Special mention to our Bears fans international:

• The entire country of Canada (yes that person has a huge house)
• Multiple members from England
• Sweden
• Somewhere near Portugal (AKA: a small dot in the Atlantic Ocean)

So as promised, here is the map:

Blue: 1 Member Reported in

Orange: 1+ Members Reported In

I saw the article in the Bears Den about jersey sales and how players appreciate looking up into the stands and seeing the fans sporting their number.

So I figured let's find out who WCG likes to show their pride for. I know personally, during the off-season, my jerseys tend to get shuffled towards the back a little bit.

Almost time to start dusting them off and getting them ready for the new season, or going to the store and stocking up on a new one for this years games.

So who's your early favorite this year?

I thought we might take a moment and see just how far the WCG spreads across this world.

When I first joined WCG, I figure it would be a bunch of Chicago people. In my time here, I have found it has been very much the opposite. I have heard many people mention "too bad I can't get to a game, I am in __________".

Then I started seeing posts from people in other countries too!

Thought we might take a moment and see just how far the WCG reaches. After this is done, I will see if I can't get a map together and check mark off US States and other countries to show just how far Bears football nation reaches!

Rules:

•  Must use place where you live majority of the year
•  No cheating
•  No liar liars, or your pants will literally catch on fire!

Well, I will start

Ohio, USA = Check

A year ago the Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo did something that shocked the Windy City. He got a 26 year old franchise quarterback through a trade with the Denver Broncos.

Now that the dust has settled and the trolls have left, lets take a more in depth look at the dealings, c'mon make the jump with me.

Continue reading this post »

I have seen some lists, Fanshots, and discussions, so lets look closer at the post draft signings.

Here is what the Bears have done during the Undrafted signing sprint:

So there is some info to digest. Will any make an impact? Will any make the team?

(I used cbs sports for the links due to their database size)

We have seen the postings on WCG and ran through the scenarios, debated them and continue watching Ron Turner castrate this offense.

So lets throw another log on the rumor fire. While visions of Ron Turners firing dance like sugarplums in our heads and we eagerly await Virginia (McCaskey) to tell us whether she believes in a Santa for the fans this year. (Pun intended on Weiss's waistline)

Link

Charlie would be "interested" in the OC job reports the Sun Times.

Record as Head Coach:

Regular Season    146-98  (.598)

Post Season             8-5  (.615)

Mike Shanahan started coaching as an assistant coach after a hit in practice ended his college playing career with a ruptured kidney. He then returned to his alma mater as OC and helped his school win the Division II football championship.

Shanahan is a strong offensive focused coach, serving various offensive roles in college programs, ranging from Offensive Assistant, Running backs coach, and finally as OC for E. Illinois, U of Minnesota and the U of Florida.

Shanahan made the jump to the pros in 1984 as a WR coach for the Broncos for one year and being promoted to OC 1985-87. He then went to the Raiders as HC in 1988-89. He went 8-12 with the Raiders in less than two seasons before being fired and returning to the Broncos as QB coach. The OC for San Fran 49'ers and then the HC in Denver again.

Shanahan led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1997-98, during which time the Broncos set a then-record for victories in two seasons. He was the last coach to win two consecutive titles until New England's Bill Belichick. In 1996-98, the Broncos set the NFL record for victories by going 46-10 over a three-year span. The Shanahan style images that of West Coast offense guru Bill Walsh. He helped the '98 Broncos set an NFL record for first quarter points scored in a season.

Shanahan's accomplishments are about as long as my arm and I am 6'4" so we will just say it like this, they are numerous and impressive.

Shanahan was fired in 2008 after the Broncos failed to make the playoffs. The Broncos spent most of the season dominating their division, but injuries (going through seven starting running backs) caused Denver to lose the last three games finishing 8-8. His firing was a shock to most Denver fans and around the league.

Raiders

Year        W-L          Division                         Result

1988        7-9       3rd in AFC West       

1989        1-3       3rd in AFC West

Denver

1995        8-8       3rd in AFC West       

1996       13-3     1st in AFC West           Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars in AFC Divisional Game.

1997       12-4      2nd in AFC West         Super Bowl XXXII Champions.

1998       14-2     1st in AFC West           Super Bowl XXXIII Champions.

1999       6-10     5th in AFC West        

2000       11-5     2nd in AFC West          Lost to Baltimore Ravens in AFC Wild-Card Game.

2001       8-8       3rd in AFC West

2002       9-7       2nd in AFC West

2003       10-6     2nd in AFC West          Lost to Indianapolis Colts in AFC Wild-Card Game.

2004       10-6     2nd in AFC West          Lost to Indianapolis Colts in AFC Wild-Card Game.

2005       13-3     1st in AFC West           Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship Game.

2006       9-7       3rd in AFC West       

2007       7-9       2nd in AFC West       

2008       8-8       2nd in AFC West       

Things to Ponder

> Shanahan had a coaching record of 24-24 over his last three seasons. So was it team talent related or did he lose his touch as many coaches do in this ever evolving league. Will the Bears talent hinder success?

> Bill Belichick raves about Shanahan, calling him an offensive genius. It has been said Shanahan is a guy who has yet to figure out how to find good defensive talent. He's a guy who hasn't put together a defense that can stop a running game in years. Better have a good DC then and what will that cost?

> Shanahan built a solid reputation in Denver on the backs of John Elway and Terrell Davis. When he lost his players, he lost his ability to win big games.

> Shanahan the GM thought Brian Griese and Jake Plummer thinking both were the next "franchise" John Elway. He was a guy who looked at the pathetic defensive line of the Cleveland Browns and thought they'd be great in Denver. Can you imagine an Angelo/Shanahan draft?

> After serving as GM/HC he will certainly want to have full personnel authority. Will JA even consider hiring a man with these demands?

> Will his up and coming son Kyle Shanahan be coming with him?

As the chants of Cowher, Shanahan, Gruden are echoing through the WCG, possibilities of these guys coming to Chicago seem far fetched considering Lovie's contract and the McCaskey wallet history.

Although the Bears organization continues to deny the rumors, the WCG has had links showing Bears contact with one of these 3. And a mysterious statement of coaching the Bears "would excite" this man, I thought we could take a look at Mr. William Laird "Bill" Cowher in this discussion.

Record as a head coach:

Regular Season 149-90-1 (.623)  [The highest % of a non-Hall of Fame coach]

Post Season 12-9 (.571)

Cowher began his coaching career in 1985 under Marty Schottenheimer as the special teams coach for the Cleveland Browns. He was the Browns' special teams coach in 1985-86 and secondary coach in 1987-88 before following Schottenheimer to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989-91 as defensive coordinator.

In Cowher's 15 seasons, the Steelers captured eight division titles, earned ten postseason playoff berths, played in 21 playoff games, advanced to six AFC Championship games and made two Super Bowl appearances. He is one of only six coaches in NFL history to claim at least seven division titles.

Year        W-L          Division                             Result

1992       11 -5       1st in AFC Central             Lost to Buffalo Bills in AFC Divisional Game.

1993       9-7          2nd in AFC Central           Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC Wild-Card Game.

1994       12-4        1st in AFC Central             Lost to San Diego Chargers in AFC Championship Game.

1995       11-5        1st in AFC Central             Lost to Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX.

1996       10-6        1st in AFC Central             Lost to New England Patriots in AFC Divisional Game.

1997       11-5        1st in AFC Central             Lost to Denver Broncos in AFC Championship Game.

1998       7-9           3rd in AFC Central           

1999       6-10        4th in AFC Central           

2000       9-7           3rd in AFC Central           

2001       13-3         1st in AFC Central             Lost to New England Patriots in AFC Championship Game.

2002       10-5-1     1st in AFC North                 Lost to Tennessee Titans in AFC Divisional Game.

2003       6-10         3rd in AFC North

2004       15-1         1st in AFC North                 Lost to New England Patriots in AFC Championship Game.

2005       11-5         2nd in AFC North               Super Bowl XL Champions.

2006       8-8           3rd in AFC North              

Some additional thoughts to ponder:

> Cowher was a very good coach for 15 years in Pittsburgh. But did anyone outside of a few partisans in the Steel City ever consider him to be some kind of cerebral sideline genius? Whichever owner gives him the many millions and full personnel authority is going to be saying such. Will Angelo allow that much power be given to a new HC?

> It wasn't so long ago when Cowher was viewed as the guy who couldn't win the big one. Cowher did win the big one...but frankly, that 2005 Pittsburgh team was a one-year wonder that got hot late and stayed hot when it mattered. It wasn't the start or culmination of a dynasty.

> You might also consider it something of an indictment of the Cowher regime that the Steelers passed over two of his most-trusted advisors, assistant head coach Russ Grimm and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, when the head coaching chair was empty early in 2007. If Cowher was so great, why weren't teams cherry-picking his assistants, the way they have Parcells' or Bill Walsh's or Bill Belichick's in the past?

>Cowher played in the AFC division, Central and North which were historically considered weaker divisions during Cowhers tenure. Cowher won the division but his teams seemed to not "finish" to clinch the AFC titles or Superbowls.

> None of this is to say that Cowher can't or won't be successful in his next job. He'll probably be a lot like his mentor, Marty Schottenheimer: A coach who will make an organization better but won't necessarily instill any sustained greatness. Will those types of results be worth the financial and organizational commitment that Cowher has reportedly demanded - multi-year, 10 million/year contract?

Cowher is a proven winner but are his sit on the clock strategies enough to compete in the high scoring, fast paced games of today and tomorrow? Can his fiery disposition and spit showers be the element that rejuvenates the Bears team? Will he be able to make the transition from AFC to NFC?

With Lovie's approval rating dropping faster than crumbs off Santa's cookies and a Bears team that looks like it is just plain lost, there is no wonder why the rumors are flying.

So as rumors fly and Bears fans ask for a new HC for Christmas, we will have to wait and see if there will be a Santa this year Virginia (McCaskey)?

Lovie Smith enters his sixth season as the head coach of the Chicago Bears with a regular season coaching record of 45-35 (.563). Smith’s 45 wins are third most in franchise history, trailing only Hall of Famers George Halas and Mike Ditka. Forty of those 45 regular season wins have come over the previous four seasons, tied for second most in the NFC and sixth most in the NFL during that span. Smith also has a 2-2 postseason record, including an NFC Championship and the Bears first Super Bowl appearance in 21 years (2006), to give him the third-most playoff victories in team history behind the six of Halas and Ditka.

Smith set forth with three stated goals when he was hired as the 13th head coach in Chicago Bears history on January 15, 2004: end the decade of dominance by the Green Bay Packers over the Bears, capture the NFC North Division for Chicago and win the Super Bowl. The Bears have won seven of 10 contests against Green Bay during Smith’s tenure, contributing to Chicago winning the division in 2005 and 2006. Accomplishing his first two directives prior to leading the Bears to within one win of their second Super Bowl title and tenth overall league championship in just his third season at the helm, Smith agreed to a contract extension on February 28, 2007 that maintains his position with the team through 2011.

Leading Chicago to division titles in 2005 and 2006, Smith joined Ditka as the only coaches in team history to lead the team to consecutive division titles. He is the first coach in team history to lead the Bears to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons.

During Smith's first five seasons at the helm, Chicago ranks fourth in the NFL having allowed 18.6 points per game and third with 163 total touchdowns allowed. Chicago gave up the fewest points in the NFC during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, pacing the entire NFL in Smith’s second year with the organization. Under Smith’s tutelage the Bears lead the league by allowing the lowest opponent third-down conversion percentage (32.2%), the lowest opponent red zone scoring efficiency (77.6%) and forcing the most opponent three-and-out drives (283).

Read more if you want

(Taken from the Bears Website)

Now we see this year as Lovie has taken over play calling responsibilities for the defense. So is it Lovie is a good coach, took on too much, past his prime?

What say you?

Here are my thoughts while answering another question and thought why not discuss it.

Lovie needs to get a Defensive Coordinator with a sack who knows how to run a 3-4 or 4-3 base and implement it ASAP in prep for next year’s draft class (which will be tough considering what we need and the picks we don’t have). Lovie needs to be the head coach to watch the game and make corrections fast or being he seems incapable of doing such at least a dedicated DC could.

I also say play the 2nd and 3rd stringers, that way we can evaluate who has skills where and who has the hunger to play. Possible raise some trade stock levels and make some moves. You never know who will emerge and be the next starter for our injury prone and wrecked team.

Unfortunately it looks like a lost season already so why not get some good out of it?

Of course the fire Lovie and Turner would be my first option but that looks unlikely so I left it for last.

BEAR DOWN!

Just curious???? Never seen it happen nor discussed.

Someone out there will surely pick up Lovie's contract. And since McCaskey has stated she will not fire him because he has contract monies left.

Seems like the same garbage gets recycled over and over. Is there really no scouting for new coach blood? You constantly see someone fail only to be picked up by another team and expects different results, doesn't seem to work much.