It’s been a busy day for the Chicago Bears.

Just hours after the team announced that it had fired long time general manager Jerry Angelo, offensive coordinator Mike Martz announced his resignation. After his meeting with head coach Lovie Smith, Martz announced that he would not return to Chicago citing “philosophical differences over how the team could run its offense.” In a move not unrelated, quarterbacks coach Shane Day also chose to not return.

Right off the bat, commentators and fans alike wondered if Martz and the Chicago Bears could co-exist. Martz has always been a pass-oriented coach, while the Bears entire organization has always been committed to being a running team. Martz’s tenure was full of questions surrounding his play calling and pass/run balance. It seems that the discrepancy between Martz and the organization has finally caught up and they have chosen to go their separate ways.

While I’ve certainly had my questions about some of Martz’s decisions over the last two seasons, you wonder how this move will affect the development of the Bears offense. If I’m honest, prior to the injuries of Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, the offense looked decently threatening. For the first time in Martz’s time with Chicago, the offense starting looking like they were “getting it.” Combining with Jay Cutler’s clear improvement in the ball protection category, the offense looked like one that was good enough to carry the team far. It speaks to Jay Cutler’s quality that all of the Bears receivers virtually disappeared once he went down. Hopefully, the fact the players will all have to learn another offense won’t set back the progress they have made. Though, I have a feeling it will.

I would have liked to see Martz stick around. Had Cutler and company actually had a strong receiver to lead the corps and a consistent offensive line, I think they would have excelled. As it was, the final five games prior to Cutler’s injury saw the Bears score 39, 24, 30, 37, and 31 points. This was an offense that was getting the job done with virtually no consistent presence at receiver and an offensive line that varied greatly in quality from week to week. Whether that was Cutler, Forte, Martz, or a combination, the results were there. I hate to see Martz go right now. While I don’t have major problems with either, I think I would have rather seen Lovie Smith go before Martz.

It’s a business I guess.

Brian is a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed the NFL throughout.

Sources

Martz Resigns

Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo was fired on Tuesday after the Bears fell out of playoff contention and finished their season with an 8-8 record.

Speaking of the decision Chicago Bears president Ted Phillips called it a “a difficult day” before naming director of player personnel Tim Ruskell as the interim leader for the team.

In a statement Phillips revealed:

“It was almost 11 years ago that I hired Jerry Angelo as our general manager. I was proud of that decision then, and I think Jerry achieved a lot as our general manager in the last 10-plus seasons,” Phillips said. “On a personal level, I knew him very well. He’s a wonderful man, high character. I’ve enjoyed every day working with him. I’m gonna miss him. But at the same time, we need more. The decision was made that we need to keep up the pace with our division rivals.”

The Chicago Bears are not giving exact reasons for their decision to fire Jerry Angelo, although they have hinted at bad NFL draft day choices, instead the club is focusing on the future with a GM search already underway.

In a vote of confidence for head coach Lovie Smith the Chicago Bears front office are said to be looking for a new GM that will mesh well with Lovie while providing a “strong character and work ethic.”

According to Phillips the team will not rule out any candidates as long as they agree to keep Lovie Smith as the Chicago Bears head coach for the 2012 season.

Jerry Angelo was in his 11th season with the Chicago Bears as the teams general manager and the season was off to a quick 7-3 start until quarterback Jay Cutler broke his thumb, quickly ending the Bears playoff hopes.

Do you think the Chicago Bears needed to fire Jerry Angelo in order to build a better team for the future?

Despite the Chicago Bears’ season ending with a meaningless game against the rival Minnesota Vikings, the game might have meant something in an indirect way.

First a little about the game itself. The Bears fell down 10-0 early on only to come back and make it 14-10 on a touchdown pass from Josh McCown to Roy Williams and an interception return touchdown by Charles Tillman. The Bears wouldn’t trail again. The Bears ended up with a 17-13 victory, but it took some timely plays (Julius Peppers blocking Ryan Longwell’s field goal attempt) and some fortunate ones (the Vikings botching a snap on another field goal attempt). The Bears tried to give this one away a couple of times. In the end, after D.J. Moore intercepted Joe Webb’s pass at the Chicago 30, it was over.

The game itself meant very little. Both teams were out of playoff contention and were locked into their respective third and fourth place finishes within the NFC North. However, one side note that could come out of this game is the settling of the Bears backup quarterback situation next season. While Josh McCown hasn’t performed extremely well in his two starts, he’s been surprisingly competent for a player who hasn’t played steadily for four years. With another solid enough start (15 for 25, 160 yards, one touchdown, and one interception), McCown has seemingly secured the backup position for next year. Combining his performance with Caleb Hanie’s lackluster one, McCown seems a little more secure.

Ideally, Jay Cutler won’t get injured next season and the choice of McCown won’t mean anything. My hope is that the Bears will try and add a piece or two (and sign Matt Forte to a long term contract) to a team that was legitimately strong prior to injuries. If the Bears can stay healthy and upgrade at a position or two, the Bears could make good on Brian Urlacher’s claim of the team vying for a championship.

For now, the victory is a dim ray of pleasure on an otherwise disappointing season.

Brian is a lifelong Chicago Bears, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed the NFL throughout.

Sources

Bears Top Vikings

• WHO: Chicago Bears (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (3-12).

• WHEN: Sunday, noon, Fox.

• OPENING LINE: Bears by 1.

• RECORD VS. SPREAD: Chicago 7-8; Minnesota 6-8-1.

• SERIES RECORD: Vikings lead 52-47-2. Last meeting, Bears beat
Vikings 39-10, Oct. 16.

• NFL RANKINGS: Bears’ offense, overall (20), rushing (8), passing
(26); Bears’ defense, overall (18), rushing (6), passing (28);
Vikings’ offense, overall (18), rushing (4), passing (28); Vikings’
defense, overall (25), rushing (12), passing (29).

• FACTS & FIGURES: Bears have won four straight in series,
their longest since six in a row from 1983-86 and longest overall
in this rivalry since Vikings won four straight over 1997 and 1998
seasons. … Bears have only won at Metrodome once since 2002,
19-16 in 2006. These teams didn’t play at site, now known as Mall
of America Field, last season because of roof collapse that forced
game outside to TCF Bank Stadium on University of Minnesota campus.
… Home team has won 16 of last 19 meetings. … Bears averaging
35.5 points in Past four games against Vikings. … In 10 games
against Vikings, WR/KR/PR Devin Hester has nine of his 30 career
TDs, five receiving and four returning. He scored twice in last
meeting. … RB Kahlil Bell, filling in for injured Matt Forte
(sprained right knee), had career-high 121 yards rushing last week.
Vikings have given up 302 yards rushing in Past two games. …
Bears have lost five straight since starting 7-3. … Vikings QB
Christian Ponder expected to play after being knocked out of last
game with concussion; RB Adrian Peterson is having surgery to
repair tears in ACL and MCL in left knee. … Vikings trying to
avoid matching worst finish in their 51-year history, 3-13 in 1984.
… Jared Allen has 18 1/2 sacks, four off NFL single-season record
and 2 1/2 short of team single-season record. … TE Jim
Kleinsasser will play in his last game, ending 13-year career. He
has played in more games than any TE in Vikings history.

- By The AP.

Read More: Chris Spencer (C – CHI), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Roberto Garza (G – CHI), Olin Kreutz (C – NOS), Peter Konz (OL – Wisconsin), Chicago Bears, Wisconsin Badgers

The latest mock draft from AOL’s Sporting News suggests the Chicago Bears may look to take the Wisconsin Badgers junior C Peter Konz:

16. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz*, C, Wisconsin. Jay Cutler took a beating behind the Bears’ line in 2011. Konz is smart and versatile and should be able to start at either center or guard as a rookie.

The Bears have allowed an 8.6% sack rate (sacks per pass attempt) in the 2011 NFL Season, good for 8th worst in the NFL. Chicago parted ways with their long-time center Olin Kreutz before the 2011 season, opting to start Roberto Garza (32 years old ) at center and Chris Spencer (29) at guard.

SB Nation’s earlier mock drafts have also suggested the Bears might look Konz’s way even if they have the No. 20 pick. Mocking the Draft rates Konz as the top center in the 2011 draft class.

For more NFL news and notes, head over to SB Nation Pro Football, and stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more Bears updates and analysis. For more in-depth analysis of the Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron.