It may be a matter of days, or even hours, before we all know the fate of Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith. In recent weeks, Smith’s popularity has dropped to an all-time low. He has quickly lost favor with fans over the team’s dismal performance this season, which ended yesterday with a 7-9 record, despite beating the Detroit Lions 37-23. Not exactly what the fans had expected at the start of the season and not after the Bears traded QB Kyle Orton to Denver for Jay Cutler last April
While fans are disappointed, the players continue to support and praise their coach (see this Tribune story). But is that enough to keep Lovie here?
While most folks want and expect a complete overhaul of the coaching staff, I think GM Jerry Angelo will decide to keep Smith for one more season, if anything because it may be more costly to replace him. It will mean another transitional year of learning to adapt to a new coaching style, and I’m not sure Angelo wants to go in that direction – yet.
However, I think other staffing changes will be made, including the firing of offensive coordinator Ron Turner, who hasn’t exactly charmed fans with his offensive ingenuity. I also think several other coaches and assistants will be fired.
Stay tuned. The Lovie watch begins.
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