Official: Mark Helfrich named Bears OC
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:48 am
Mark Helfrich, former Oregon coach, is reportedly being tabbed as the OC under Nagy.
Over 10 Years of Bearing Down
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Hiphopopotamos wrote:Giggity. These are dream hires for me.
Chip Kelly was really trying to get Helfrich on his staff as OC at UCLA, and he had also been rumored as a candidate for the Texas job. It's not like no one was looking at him. Hiestand is widely regarded as the best OL coach in the country, used to work for the Bears, and decided to come back to the NFL after being in ND (and putting together, inarguably one of the best OL's in the nation).malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
Hiestand left ND where he could have stayed for the rest of his life, and Helfrich turned down the Bruins OC job to come to the Bears. So, something must be working in Chicago right now.malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
Hilfrich was also being courted by the AZ Wildcats to be their head coach.wab wrote:Hiestand left ND where he could have stayed for the rest of his life, and Helfrich turned down the Bruins OC job to come to the Bears. So, something must be working in Chicago right now.malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
Honestly, its the Cubs all over again. Coaches, athletes, competitors want to win in a city that loves sports. No one wants to go to Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl, nobody gives a shit down there. Competitors want to go where, 1) the team has a rabid fan base, 2) haven't won in a long time. The Bears haven't won the SB in 32 years. Everyone coming here knows that they can be rock stars if they can pull it off. That Chicago will throw them an epic party that will last for weeks. I said it before. Watch what happens when FA opens. I bet we snag 3-4 big names, that want to be here.wab wrote:Hiestand left ND where he could have stayed for the rest of his life, and Helfrich turned down the Bruins OC job to come to the Bears. So, something must be working in Chicago right now.malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
Something I hadn't really considered but is so, so true is just how REVERED being a head coach of the Bears means. A lot of guys grew up idolizing Ditka, Buddy Ryan, the 46, the 85 champions. They've seen recently just how glorious it can be to mold a winner in Chicago, as the Blackhawks and Cubs have turned things around and are now forever glorified.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:Honestly, its the Cubs all over again. Coaches, athletes, competitors want to win in a city that loves sports. No one wants to go to Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl, nobody gives a shit down there. Competitors want to go where, 1) the team has a rabid fan base, 2) haven't won in a long time. The Bears haven't won the SB in 32 years. Everyone coming here knows that they can be rock stars if they can pull it off. That Chicago will throw them an epic party that will last for weeks. I said it before. Watch what happens when FA opens. I bet we snag 3-4 big names, that want to be here.wab wrote:Hiestand left ND where he could have stayed for the rest of his life, and Helfrich turned down the Bruins OC job to come to the Bears. So, something must be working in Chicago right now.malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
It's almost like the Bears have recognized the direction the league is heading and are hiring people accordingly. This is a very confusing time to be a fan...staleystarch wrote:Switching to a fast paced cutting edge offense is very unbears-like.
I'm just crossing my fingers this more like hiring Bill Walsh than Gary Crowton.wab wrote:It's almost like the Bears have recognized the direction the league is heading and are hiring people accordingly. This is a very confusing time to be a fan...staleystarch wrote:Switching to a fast paced cutting edge offense is very unbears-like.
Jesus I'm turning into the debbie downer aren't I? I'm not excited about anything. CAUTIOUSLY optimistic, but I've read this story before... Trestman's an offensive genius and is going to bring our offense into the 21st century, OMG look at those Alshon reverses that always go for 10+ yards! Ok he failed but John Fox just got ADAM FUCKING GASE! Did you see what he did in Denver!? He's going to bring our offense into the 21st century.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:Honestly, its the Cubs all over again. Coaches, athletes, competitors want to win in a city that loves sports. No one wants to go to Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl, nobody gives a shit down there. Competitors want to go where, 1) the team has a rabid fan base, 2) haven't won in a long time. The Bears haven't won the SB in 32 years. Everyone coming here knows that they can be rock stars if they can pull it off. That Chicago will throw them an epic party that will last for weeks. I said it before. Watch what happens when FA opens. I bet we snag 3-4 big names, that want to be here.wab wrote:Hiestand left ND where he could have stayed for the rest of his life, and Helfrich turned down the Bruins OC job to come to the Bears. So, something must be working in Chicago right now.malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
Ha ha, it's weird because it's like you and I have switched places with this coaching change. I used to be all "eh, I guess we'll see" and you were all "wheeeeeeee!".G08 wrote:Jesus I'm turning into the debbie downer aren't I? I'm not excited about anything. CAUTIOUSLY optimistic, but I've read this story before... Trestman's an offensive genius and is going to bring our offense into the 21st century, OMG look at those Alshon reverses that always go for 10+ yards! Ok he failed but John Fox just got ADAM FUCKING GASE! Did you see what he did in Denver!? He's going to bring our offense into the 21st century.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:Honestly, its the Cubs all over again. Coaches, athletes, competitors want to win in a city that loves sports. No one wants to go to Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl, nobody gives a shit down there. Competitors want to go where, 1) the team has a rabid fan base, 2) haven't won in a long time. The Bears haven't won the SB in 32 years. Everyone coming here knows that they can be rock stars if they can pull it off. That Chicago will throw them an epic party that will last for weeks. I said it before. Watch what happens when FA opens. I bet we snag 3-4 big names, that want to be here.wab wrote:Hiestand left ND where he could have stayed for the rest of his life, and Helfrich turned down the Bruins OC job to come to the Bears. So, something must be working in Chicago right now.malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
I'm just... I'm pumping the breaks until I actually see it in a meaningful game. It sucks, I hate it, and I genuinely am jealous of ya'll that are excited because that used to be me.
malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
Sigh. I miss being "wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee".wab wrote: Ha ha, it's weird because it's like you and I have switched places with this coaching change. I used to be all "eh, I guess we'll see" and you were all "wheeeeeeee!".
I will say. This transformation is not happening next year. I could see the Bears outperforming expectations next year, and maybe even earning a WC spot. But they are still 2-3 years away from real success.wab wrote:Ha ha, it's weird because it's like you and I have switched places with this coaching change. I used to be all "eh, I guess we'll see" and you were all "wheeeeeeee!".G08 wrote:Jesus I'm turning into the debbie downer aren't I? I'm not excited about anything. CAUTIOUSLY optimistic, but I've read this story before... Trestman's an offensive genius and is going to bring our offense into the 21st century, OMG look at those Alshon reverses that always go for 10+ yards! Ok he failed but John Fox just got ADAM FUCKING GASE! Did you see what he did in Denver!? He's going to bring our offense into the 21st century.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:Honestly, its the Cubs all over again. Coaches, athletes, competitors want to win in a city that loves sports. No one wants to go to Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl, nobody gives a shit down there. Competitors want to go where, 1) the team has a rabid fan base, 2) haven't won in a long time. The Bears haven't won the SB in 32 years. Everyone coming here knows that they can be rock stars if they can pull it off. That Chicago will throw them an epic party that will last for weeks. I said it before. Watch what happens when FA opens. I bet we snag 3-4 big names, that want to be here.wab wrote:Hiestand left ND where he could have stayed for the rest of his life, and Helfrich turned down the Bruins OC job to come to the Bears. So, something must be working in Chicago right now.malk wrote:Where these guys being courted by anyone else? Super happy with the hires from what I read but by the same token it would seem odd that they weren't in demand?
If they were then it's another feather in the cap for Pace and Nagy. Maybe one feather each.
I'm just... I'm pumping the breaks until I actually see it in a meaningful game. It sucks, I hate it, and I genuinely am jealous of ya'll that are excited because that used to be me.
I'll use this quote to emphasize a different point.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote: ... Honestly, its the Cubs all over again. Coaches, athletes, competitors want to win in a city that loves sports. No one wants to go to Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl, nobody gives a shit down there ..
100% agree. But players and coaches are football smart way beyond our level. They know who the good coaches are. they hear the internal talk about the good GM's and the bad ones. The franchises that are headed in the right direction, and the ones that aren't. They also travel all over the US playing other teams, and see every fanbase out there. They see a half full Miami Dolphins stadium in September, and a rabid fanbase in November when its 25*, and Soldier Field is PACKED. They see all of that. All I'm saying is that when a team starts heading in the right direction, coaches and players know it. The FA period will be a big tell as to who is actually buying into this rebuild. Players want to win and win big. For the fame, the endorsements, the money. They will go where they think they have the best chance to get that, and all things being equal, they would rather do it in a city like Chicago than Jacksonville.IotaNet wrote:I'll use this quote to emphasize a different point.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote: ... Honestly, its the Cubs all over again. Coaches, athletes, competitors want to win in a city that loves sports. No one wants to go to Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl, nobody gives a shit down there ..
It's about the city and the excitement but it is also about winning and losing.
Jacksonville used to be seen as a wasteland -- a joke. A totally backwards franchise. (Remember when everyone was clamoring from them to sign Tebow just to get some excitement?
Fast forward to one season with Coughlin in place and now all of a sudden the Jags are flying high (even with an inept quarterback.) They're seen as tough, disciplined, and on the rise. As someone said, "Winning is a wonderful deodorant."
I am excited about the moves we're making -- they seem to be sensible, well tough-out, and forward thinking. The bottom line however, is that we need to see some results on the field next fall. If we can do that, none of the other stuff will matter.