For all of you who claim it takes 4 or 5 years...
... to build a team, and that you should not evaluate until at least several years into the process -- let me introduce you to Lovie Smith.
In the 2 years preceding his hire, da bears were 4 – 12 in 2002, 7 – 9 in 2003, and were picked to finish last in the NFC North in both his first and second seasons (2004 and 2005). After his hire on January 15, 2004, Lovie Smith, demonstrating vision and leaderhip, set forth three clearly stated goals:
1.) end the decade of dominance by the Green Bay Packers over the Bears,
2.) capture the NFC North Division for Chicago,
3.) and win the Super Bowl.
To accomplish these clearly articulated goals Smith started cleaning house and entered his first season as Head Coach (2004) of the youngest team in the NFL.
The team suffered the growing pains one might predict of a young team with a new staff embarking upon a youth movement – finishing with a 5-11 record in 2004 as Lovie coached his youngsters, while battling through a host of injuries that robbed the team of the services of several of its most takented players. He did however make progress on his first stated goal by defeating the Packers in one of their two tilts against their lont-time chief rival. Still, Lovie offered no excuses and declared that he and is players most perform better if they hoped to meet their goals and succeed.
Entering the 2005 season the talking heads were calling da bears the worst team in the NFL and the Prognosticators were universally picking da bears to finish last in the NFC North.
Surely Smith would fail to progress on his stated goals and would need time to achieve his stated goals – and it was too early to have any kind of expectations of this young rebuilding team -- right???
Well, not exactly.
Despite suffering early season injuries and starting 1 – 3, Smith rallied the Bears to an 11-5 regular season mark as Chicago became just the twentieth NFL team to qualify for the post-season after beginning the season 1-3 since the current 12-team playoff system was instituted in 1990.
In achieving his 2nd stated goal (winning the division) he also sealed the deal on his first goal by sweeping the Packers and along the way collected the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award. Two years, two major goals accomplished.
Now entering his 3rd year in the helm, Lovie will go to work on the third objective in 2006.
Like Lovie Smith, I believe that goals are achieved through clear vision, honest evaluation, and strong desire to succeed.
I am a patient man, and am willing to wait and hope for progress and growth, but if the Packers ever hope to turn things around, it will take much more of the above and far less of the excuses (and blaming of the predecessors) and certainly no more of the sticking of heads in the sand and claiming it takes years before you can even start to evaluate.
I have yet to hear Ted Thompson articulate a clear vision and have not been impressed by his lack of candor nor his unwillingness to admit mistakes.
If he as a first time GM, and his young staff and players are going to succeed they need to start looking in the mirror and being honest with themselves and show willingness to adapt and change in ways that reflect a strong desire to succeed.
***NOTE*** This is in no way a calling for anyone's head. Development does take patience, and with a 1st time GM, 1st time HC, two 1st time coordinators, and the youngest team in the division patience will be required. It does however throw down the gauntlet and declare that there will be no free passes or does of denial issued along the way if we hope to see that development in our lifetime.
... to build a team, and that you should not evaluate until at least several years into the process -- let me introduce you to Lovie Smith.
In the 2 years preceding his hire, da bears were 4 – 12 in 2002, 7 – 9 in 2003, and were picked to finish last in the NFC North in both his first and second seasons (2004 and 2005). After his hire on January 15, 2004, Lovie Smith, demonstrating vision and leaderhip, set forth three clearly stated goals:
1.) end the decade of dominance by the Green Bay Packers over the Bears,
2.) capture the NFC North Division for Chicago,
3.) and win the Super Bowl.
To accomplish these clearly articulated goals Smith started cleaning house and entered his first season as Head Coach (2004) of the youngest team in the NFL.
The team suffered the growing pains one might predict of a young team with a new staff embarking upon a youth movement – finishing with a 5-11 record in 2004 as Lovie coached his youngsters, while battling through a host of injuries that robbed the team of the services of several of its most takented players. He did however make progress on his first stated goal by defeating the Packers in one of their two tilts against their lont-time chief rival. Still, Lovie offered no excuses and declared that he and is players most perform better if they hoped to meet their goals and succeed.
Entering the 2005 season the talking heads were calling da bears the worst team in the NFL and the Prognosticators were universally picking da bears to finish last in the NFC North.
Surely Smith would fail to progress on his stated goals and would need time to achieve his stated goals – and it was too early to have any kind of expectations of this young rebuilding team -- right???
Well, not exactly.
Despite suffering early season injuries and starting 1 – 3, Smith rallied the Bears to an 11-5 regular season mark as Chicago became just the twentieth NFL team to qualify for the post-season after beginning the season 1-3 since the current 12-team playoff system was instituted in 1990.
In achieving his 2nd stated goal (winning the division) he also sealed the deal on his first goal by sweeping the Packers and along the way collected the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award. Two years, two major goals accomplished.
Now entering his 3rd year in the helm, Lovie will go to work on the third objective in 2006.
Like Lovie Smith, I believe that goals are achieved through clear vision, honest evaluation, and strong desire to succeed.
I am a patient man, and am willing to wait and hope for progress and growth, but if the Packers ever hope to turn things around, it will take much more of the above and far less of the excuses (and blaming of the predecessors) and certainly no more of the sticking of heads in the sand and claiming it takes years before you can even start to evaluate.
I have yet to hear Ted Thompson articulate a clear vision and have not been impressed by his lack of candor nor his unwillingness to admit mistakes.
If he as a first time GM, and his young staff and players are going to succeed they need to start looking in the mirror and being honest with themselves and show willingness to adapt and change in ways that reflect a strong desire to succeed.
***NOTE*** This is in no way a calling for anyone's head. Development does take patience, and with a 1st time GM, 1st time HC, two 1st time coordinators, and the youngest team in the division patience will be required. It does however throw down the gauntlet and declare that there will be no free passes or does of denial issued along the way if we hope to see that development in our lifetime.
