[Editor's Note: Throughout the day I participate in email conversations with friends about hot sports topics. One of my friends in particular is very active in these conversations. This is that friend, a dedicated analyst of all things Chicago. What you will read below was written in response to the following email question that I sent him yesterday:
I greatly anticipate your next Bears email.
You now have a high-priced QB who can’t lead, a high-priced DE who doesn’t love football, a RB who is over 30 (though with low tread on the tires) and another RB who is completely ineffective without a great offensive line. And still, with your golden-armed QB, you have no WRs.
Granted, still a lot of time left…but was Peppers really a prudent investment? You follow this closer than I do. What say you?
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Peppers? Who knows. Willkie does not profess to be a magician evaluator of talent, nor would I ever claim to understand the intricacies of human emotions, especially in the most unstable of creatures rapidly ascending hordes of cash, fame, and attention.
Rather, I think the more alarming situation concerning the bears is the multi-variate and conflicting strategy.  Remember the Greek fable of Hydra?
Hydra was the multi-headed creature residing near Lake Lerna in Greece.  When cutting off one head two would grow back in its place, leading you to regress in any attempt to dominate the creature.
Well, replace Lake Lerna with Lake Michigan and the creature representing Hyrda is the Bears.
Let’s consider the heads…
First, acquiring Cutler transformed the organization. You don’t make your highest paid player and “the franchise” of the organization some guy who is going to “manage the clock”. Since inception, the Bears have played strong defense and a ball control offense. Acquiring Jay altered your core competencies entirely.
Would Wal-Mart suddenly shift from low prices to retailing Chanel and Versace?
Second, replacing the defensive and offensive coordinator without replacing a head coach who has been with the team 6 seasons is a mistake. Essentially you’re admitting change without committing to it.
Nobody is stupid. In a league with coaching tenure averaging 3 seasons you’re going to clean house with the exception of the head coach? Why would a coordinator sign up for this? Any mediocre season will be an immediate disposal.  Yeah, the paycheck is nice, but how many quality candidates land somewhere expecting to be gone in 12 months?
Simply, none.
Third, take the shine off Mike Martz, please!
Anchoring to the ”greatest show on turf” is ideal, but why would a “genius coordinator” have 3 different employers the last 4 years? Moreover to the previous point, why would Martz step into the situation of desperate head coach, teetering front office, and anxious fan base? Answer: Martz has little market value.
Fourth, Martz only furthers the anti-ball control offense. How exactly will the infamous “7-step Kitna drop” work with an offensive line not capable of blocking in a high school jamboree? Granted, Martz churned out over 1600 yards and 140 receptions from Shaun Mcdonald and Mike Furrey in 2007, so the pathetic core of WRs is marginalized, but your two big free agent signings are an RB and an alleged premiere defensive end?!?
So, the Hydra residing on the shores of Lake Michigan continues to grow her heads — Urlacher’s on-field and media disappearing act, Jay Cutler’s big arm, a forgotten and once proud running game, a multi-generational staple of good defense, a pass-only-and-running-is-for-wimps O-coordinator whose track record implies lack of humility and longevity, and a new defensive coordinator whose previous leadership position had him the steward of the 0-16 Lions.
How was Hydra ever defeated? Hercules cut the head and cauterized the neck before two heads could grow anew.
Perhaps the directionless Bears should consider a lesson from Hercules….
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Who is Wendell Willkie? Wouldn’t you like to know.
The pseudonym was inspired by the very Wendell Willkie who is an Indiana University legend and democrat turncoat who ran for president against FDR in 1940; however, the man behind the pseuodonym shall otherwise remain nameless.
Jerod simply posts WW’s ramblings here to help unclog his inbox (hence, the spam cleansing) and because there are occasional nuggets of insight that provide good jumping off points for conversation.
So go, converse. WW will undoubtedly be back soon with more email ramblings…
