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Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo's comments put heat squarely on Lovie Smith, his staff

Angelo's comments direct heat at Smith, his staff

David Haugh | On the Bears

February 24, 2009

Thanks for nothing, boss.

Lovie Smith would never say so, but you had to wonder if that's what he thought over the weekend after hearing general manager Jerry Angelo's plans to tweak rather than transform the Bears' roster. Knowingly or not, Angelo turned up the heat a notch on Smith by identifying coaching and attitude as the biggest reasons for optimism heading into 2009.

Don't expect any quick-fix, big-ticket free agent signings, Angelo said. Don't count on the NFL draft for an instant cure. Don't hold your breath waiting for that blockbuster trade either.

But by all means, do trust the Bears' coaches to improve the attitude—and thus the record.

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That approach threatens to make the Bears the most well-adjusted 7-9 team in the NFC. Is there a Dr. Phil Trophy awarded the team with the healthiest outlook?

Looks like Angelo has started going to the same coffeehouse as Smith, where every cup is served half-full.

Following Angelo's logic, if the Bears fail next year—the working definition of failure would be missing the playoffs a third straight season—it will be because of coaching more than any other aspect of the organization.

If an NFL general manager determines after thorough postseason analysis that the key to improving the won-loss record lies in shaking up the staff more than the roster, that's as telling as it is troubling.

It essentially tells a head coach such as Smith that the GM believes he has acquired enough talent—now go win. In the case of the Bears, it says Angelo believes the players are good enough to win the NFC North if the coaching staff just can find the best ways to use them.

The thermostat in the head coach's office just went up a few degrees. With two years and $9 million remaining on his contract after next season, Smith still seems safe in his job unless '09 turns into a disaster.

But when six Super Bowl-winning coaches likely will enter next season unemployed but potentially available—Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren, Jon Gruden and Brian Billick—it promises to be noisier around Chicago if the coaching Angelo counts on cannot pull the Bears out of mediocrity.

There's no way Angelo intended that to be the lasting impression of his annual state-of-the-Bears chat at the NFL combine. He and Smith mostly have worked well together, and both have long-term deals that allow them to make decisions with little concern for job security.

He also could be bluffing.

But this inadvertent shift of priorities and responsibility was impossible to ignore as Angelo explained why a team with holes galore on the roster and around $30 million under the salary cap will basically stand pat.

He didn't blame a bad economy or the uncertainty of the NFL's collective-bargaining agreement, reasons most of us would have accepted.

He didn't lean on the crutch of a weak free agent class, another good reason for fiscal conservatism.

No, Angelo spoke about the values of coaching and attitude like an old-school football coach clinging to the principles that helped build a successful career in the league.

He implied the Bears' biggest problems are from the shoulders up. It is an admirable stance but a tad idealistic in today's NFL.

And it isn't fair to ask Smith to lift the Bears back into the playoffs without aggressive plans to pursue a wide receiver, an offensive tackle, a safety or a pass rusher to provide a boost.

Coaches have a significant impact in the NFL, but players, more than anything, still make the biggest difference. It has been that way from Lombardi to Tomlin.

Amazing how Bill Belichick did such a better job coaching in New England when his quarterback was Tom Brady than in Cleveland when he had to rely on the likes of Todd Philcox.

The Bears need better players much more than they need better coaching.

Angelo's comments also cast a slightly different light on the Bears' 16-16 record since their Super Bowl appearance.

Angelo saying he still believes in the core of players moving forward indirectly indicts the coaching staff for not getting the most out of the talent while that Super Bowl window was still open.

If the players are as good as Angelo apparently thinks they are, then that must make swallowing two consecutive postseason misses even harder.

A third straight season without a playoff game for the Bears can be avoided through better coaching and attitude, Angelo assures us.

But if it isn't, rest assured Smith and his coaches won't be the only culpable ones at Halas Hall.

dhaugh@tribune.com