I think Bears miss Lovie Smith and a dominate Defense. It doesn't surprise me they go with a defensive guy... Fox is predictable but did a lot with a little in Carolina. Bears fans shouldnt be upset. I'd be curious who the offensive coordinator is, but hopefully Manning opened up Fox offensively-- if not, it's okay, Forte touching the ball 25 times isn't a bad thing.
[h=1]http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14169768/john-fox-succeeding-latest-rebuild-nfl[/h]
Friday, November 20, 2015
John Fox can make Denver a notch in his Chicago rebuild
By Jason Reid
ESPN.com
<tbody>
</tbody>Human nature tells us that Chicago Bears head coach John Fox should have extra incentive to beat the Denver Broncos this week after their split in January despite four spectacular seasons together.
"When you've been doing this for 26 years ... you end up playing your ex-team a bunch," Fox said the other day in Chicago, skillfully sidestepping reporters' questions about his emotions. "A lot of close friends there, a lot of people I have shared some great moments with, but it's the next team on the schedule."
But the Broncos are the only team on the Bears' schedule whom Fox led to four consecutive AFC West titles and a Super Bowl appearance. That's the team he guided to a 46-18 record in the regular season before being fired.
Maybe it was just in time. In the Broncos' first year without Fox, there's great concern in the Mile High City about injured 39-year-old quarterback Peyton Manning, who is having the worst season of his marvelous career, played poorly during consecutive losses after a 7-0 start and already has been ruled out of Sunday's game at Chicago's Soldier Field. Fourth-year backup Brock Osweiler will make his first career start.
Meanwhile, since Fox arrived in Chicago, the Bears' situation has improved at quarterback, and a team going through a personnel rebuild has followed.
Chicago has rebounded from an abysmal 0-3 start -- no team looked worse out of the gate -- to win four of six, including two in a row. Quarterback Jay Cutler has experienced a bounce-back campaign as Fox continues to build on his well-deserved reputation for being a turnaround artist. And you don't need to be an NFL lifer to understand Fox is working on one of his best moves yet.
During a 13-year NFL career, Shawn Springs admired how Fox coached, first as an aggressive defensive coordinator and then while running an entire program.
"He's one of those guys you would love to play for," said Springs, now a television analyst. "I never played for him, but guys talk, and he's definitely a players' coach. He's also a ... man's man. For me, you want to know what to expect from a coach, you want someone you respect and someone who understands what it takes to win. Fast."
<tbody>
</tbody>Next to Fox's name, check each box.
The Carolina Panthers went 1-15 during the 2001 season. Then they hired Fox, who went 7-9 as a rookie boss. In only Fox's second season, the Panthers reached the Super Bowl. A field goal in the closing seconds gave the New England Patriots the second of their four Vince Lombardi trophies.
From 1-15 to a Super Bowl appearance in three seasons would be a major accomplishment under any circumstances. Factor in that the quick fix occurred with Jake Delhomme at quarterback, and, well, the achievement was downright miraculous. No offense to Delhomme, but let's just say he won't be remembered as one of the greatest quarterbacks to reach a Super Bowl.
Although the Panthers reached the playoffs two more times during Fox's next seven seasons, he probably stayed too long. It was no surprise his contract was not renewed after he had a 2-14 mark in 2010. Fox was unemployed only briefly. He moved to Denver, where Broncos legend John Elway was in a new role as the team's vice president of football operations.
Even with Tim Tebow starting 14 games and finishing 28th in Total QBR, the Broncos improved from 4-12 the previous season to 8-8, which was good enough for Fox to win the first of his four straight division titles. After the season, the Broncos signed Manning -- both a blessing and a curse. The QB would help deliver more wins, but the clock also began ticking on Fox's job security. Win big, or else.
No. 18 still had a lot left after his long, wildly successful run as the Indianapolis Colts' leader. This much, though, was clear, too: The Broncos had a short window to win a Super Bowl title before Manning's incredible physical skills eroded to the point he could no longer carry a team (and from the look of things, that time has arrived). Fox had a .719 winning percentage in Denver. The Broncos finished No. 1 in scoring with a record 606 points in 2013. They also were No. 2 in 2014. During Fox's last three seasons in Denver, the Broncos never won fewer than 12 games in the regular season.
However, when a team has a Super Bowl-or-bust mentality and comes up empty, change is inevitable.
"Expectations, man," Springs said. "When you have them in this league and it doesn't happen, somebody's leaving."
Supposedly, the Broncos-Fox divorce was as amicable as that sort of thing can be. Elway and Fox said it was a mutual decision. It would also be highly surprising if there hadn't been some behind-the-scenes friction between Elway and Fox, especially considering the team's postseason failure.
Elway hired Gary Kubiak, his longtime friend and former backup, to replace Fox, and Fox entered his latest rebuild. But even after that disastrous start, the Bears are a win off their 2014 season total.
All of a sudden, it started to click between the new staff and players.
"The whole football team is growing," Fox said. "This is a new system."
For Cutler, ditching the old approach has been a game-changer.
No longer the most despised athlete in Chicago, Cutler has thrived while working with offensive coordinator Adam Gase. He's ninth in the league in Total QBR and delivered his most efficient performance of the season in a Week 10 rout of the St. Louis Rams. Said Fox: "He continues to kind of amaze me."
Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte has been sidelined the past two games. Standout wide receiver Alshon Jeffery hasn't been at full strength lately. No problem for Cutler, who has received lots of help from others. Against the Rams, tight end Zach Miller had 85 yards after the catch on an 87-yard touchdown reception. Impressive rookie running back Jeremy Langford had 88 yards after the catch on an 83-yard touchdown. The 173 combined yards after the catch are the most on a team's touchdowns in the past 10 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information. When stuff like that happens, you know you're going good.
"I'm really not surprised by what Cutler has done for them. He has the talent," Springs said. "But the Bears ... they've had some dysfunction there. It just shows that if you bring in the right guy, and he's a guy who has gotten other teams turned around, it can happen."
Only a few weeks ago, the Bears appeared rudderless, but they've steadily improved while Fox is only getting started. That's what he does. The Broncos can tell you all about it.
Friday, November 20, 2015
John Fox can make Denver a notch in his Chicago rebuild
By Jason Reid
ESPN.com
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<tbody>
</tbody>
"When you've been doing this for 26 years ... you end up playing your ex-team a bunch," Fox said the other day in Chicago, skillfully sidestepping reporters' questions about his emotions. "A lot of close friends there, a lot of people I have shared some great moments with, but it's the next team on the schedule."
But the Broncos are the only team on the Bears' schedule whom Fox led to four consecutive AFC West titles and a Super Bowl appearance. That's the team he guided to a 46-18 record in the regular season before being fired.
Maybe it was just in time. In the Broncos' first year without Fox, there's great concern in the Mile High City about injured 39-year-old quarterback Peyton Manning, who is having the worst season of his marvelous career, played poorly during consecutive losses after a 7-0 start and already has been ruled out of Sunday's game at Chicago's Soldier Field. Fourth-year backup Brock Osweiler will make his first career start.
Meanwhile, since Fox arrived in Chicago, the Bears' situation has improved at quarterback, and a team going through a personnel rebuild has followed.
Chicago has rebounded from an abysmal 0-3 start -- no team looked worse out of the gate -- to win four of six, including two in a row. Quarterback Jay Cutler has experienced a bounce-back campaign as Fox continues to build on his well-deserved reputation for being a turnaround artist. And you don't need to be an NFL lifer to understand Fox is working on one of his best moves yet.
During a 13-year NFL career, Shawn Springs admired how Fox coached, first as an aggressive defensive coordinator and then while running an entire program.
"He's one of those guys you would love to play for," said Springs, now a television analyst. "I never played for him, but guys talk, and he's definitely a players' coach. He's also a ... man's man. For me, you want to know what to expect from a coach, you want someone you respect and someone who understands what it takes to win. Fast."
| <spacer type="block" width="5" height="1"></spacer> |
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| [FONT=verdana, arial, geneva]John Fox appears to have had a positive impact on QB Jay Cutler.[/FONT] |
<tbody>
</tbody>
The Carolina Panthers went 1-15 during the 2001 season. Then they hired Fox, who went 7-9 as a rookie boss. In only Fox's second season, the Panthers reached the Super Bowl. A field goal in the closing seconds gave the New England Patriots the second of their four Vince Lombardi trophies.
From 1-15 to a Super Bowl appearance in three seasons would be a major accomplishment under any circumstances. Factor in that the quick fix occurred with Jake Delhomme at quarterback, and, well, the achievement was downright miraculous. No offense to Delhomme, but let's just say he won't be remembered as one of the greatest quarterbacks to reach a Super Bowl.
Although the Panthers reached the playoffs two more times during Fox's next seven seasons, he probably stayed too long. It was no surprise his contract was not renewed after he had a 2-14 mark in 2010. Fox was unemployed only briefly. He moved to Denver, where Broncos legend John Elway was in a new role as the team's vice president of football operations.
Even with Tim Tebow starting 14 games and finishing 28th in Total QBR, the Broncos improved from 4-12 the previous season to 8-8, which was good enough for Fox to win the first of his four straight division titles. After the season, the Broncos signed Manning -- both a blessing and a curse. The QB would help deliver more wins, but the clock also began ticking on Fox's job security. Win big, or else.
No. 18 still had a lot left after his long, wildly successful run as the Indianapolis Colts' leader. This much, though, was clear, too: The Broncos had a short window to win a Super Bowl title before Manning's incredible physical skills eroded to the point he could no longer carry a team (and from the look of things, that time has arrived). Fox had a .719 winning percentage in Denver. The Broncos finished No. 1 in scoring with a record 606 points in 2013. They also were No. 2 in 2014. During Fox's last three seasons in Denver, the Broncos never won fewer than 12 games in the regular season.
However, when a team has a Super Bowl-or-bust mentality and comes up empty, change is inevitable.
"Expectations, man," Springs said. "When you have them in this league and it doesn't happen, somebody's leaving."
Supposedly, the Broncos-Fox divorce was as amicable as that sort of thing can be. Elway and Fox said it was a mutual decision. It would also be highly surprising if there hadn't been some behind-the-scenes friction between Elway and Fox, especially considering the team's postseason failure.
Elway hired Gary Kubiak, his longtime friend and former backup, to replace Fox, and Fox entered his latest rebuild. But even after that disastrous start, the Bears are a win off their 2014 season total.
All of a sudden, it started to click between the new staff and players.
"The whole football team is growing," Fox said. "This is a new system."
For Cutler, ditching the old approach has been a game-changer.
No longer the most despised athlete in Chicago, Cutler has thrived while working with offensive coordinator Adam Gase. He's ninth in the league in Total QBR and delivered his most efficient performance of the season in a Week 10 rout of the St. Louis Rams. Said Fox: "He continues to kind of amaze me."
Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte has been sidelined the past two games. Standout wide receiver Alshon Jeffery hasn't been at full strength lately. No problem for Cutler, who has received lots of help from others. Against the Rams, tight end Zach Miller had 85 yards after the catch on an 87-yard touchdown reception. Impressive rookie running back Jeremy Langford had 88 yards after the catch on an 83-yard touchdown. The 173 combined yards after the catch are the most on a team's touchdowns in the past 10 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information. When stuff like that happens, you know you're going good.
"I'm really not surprised by what Cutler has done for them. He has the talent," Springs said. "But the Bears ... they've had some dysfunction there. It just shows that if you bring in the right guy, and he's a guy who has gotten other teams turned around, it can happen."
Only a few weeks ago, the Bears appeared rudderless, but they've steadily improved while Fox is only getting started. That's what he does. The Broncos can tell you all about it.
http://wane.com/2017/12/03/another-loss-for-fox-as-bears-fall-15-14-to-49ers/
CHICAGO (AP) When John Fox was hired to coach the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Pace said he was “a proven winner” and “the perfect man to lead our charge.”
Almost three years later, it’s not going very well. And it might not be going on for much longer.
Chicago managed just eight first downs and 147 yards of offense in its fifth straight loss on Sunday, falling 15-14 to the lowly San Francisco 49ers on five field goals by former Bears kicker Robbie Gould. Fox dropped to 12-32 in his third stop as an NFL head coach and is assured of a third consecutive losing season.
CHICAGO (AP) When John Fox was hired to coach the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Pace said he was “a proven winner” and “the perfect man to lead our charge.”
Almost three years later, it’s not going very well. And it might not be going on for much longer.
Chicago managed just eight first downs and 147 yards of offense in its fifth straight loss on Sunday, falling 15-14 to the lowly San Francisco 49ers on five field goals by former Bears kicker Robbie Gould. Fox dropped to 12-32 in his third stop as an NFL head coach and is assured of a third consecutive losing season.
