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Bears

Let me try to explain it this way. I would be OK with the Bears if they were paying McCarthy $13 million. But he is a proven commodity and Johnson isn't. There is a huge difference between a prospect and a proven commodity. No guarantees with a proven commodity. But, you know what you're getting in a proven coach ahead of time. And McCarthy isn't too old. I feel better with a proven commodity like McCarthy over a prospect even if it is a high prospect.

Did you pick the Chiefs to win yesterday? I did and I would bet you did too. I thought they would win, not because I am some genius. But it is simple.

I picked the Chiefs because, until someone beats Mahomes, he is the Champion. But I also picked them yesterday because they have proven they can win and Josh Allen and the Bills haven't. In other words, Mahomes and the Chiefs are a proven commodity and Allen isn't...yet anyway. It is quite simple when you think it about that way. Again, no guarantee. But if all things are equal I can't pick against the Chiefs and I think they will win the Super Bowl too. They just know how to get it done, even with all the WR injuries.

The same holds true for me with McCarthy over Johnson and the Bears certainly could have gotten McCarthy for $13M. Perhaps even less. But, time will tell.
Just because someone has been there, done that doesn't mean their worth more.

I had the over so I really didn't care who won as long as both teams kept scoring.

Any other team could have had McCarthy as well. It's not even a little concerning to someone like you, who is so skeptical of the Bears organization that they were the only team so high on McCarthy? He's still a candidate for the Saints job, the only HC position left open, but they haven't pulled the trigger on him.

Bears

I get exactly what you're saying. You gotta stop plucking that one string guitar every time I refute something you say. Yes, they're giving him a lot of money compared to several veteran coaches in the league before ever coaching a game. My response is, so what? Why does it matter? They have the money so why does it matter if they give him $6 million or $13 million per year? You say you have no faith in the Bears organization, so wouldn't the perceived over paying for a first time head coach make sense to you?
Let me try to explain it this way. I would be OK with the Bears if they were paying McCarthy $13 million. But he is a proven commodity and Johnson isn't. There is a huge difference between a prospect and a proven commodity. No guarantees with a proven commodity. But, you know what you're getting in a proven coach ahead of time. And McCarthy isn't too old. I feel better with a proven commodity like McCarthy over a prospect even if it is a high prospect.

Did you pick the Chiefs to win yesterday? I did and I would bet you did too. I thought they would win, not because I am some genius. But it is simple.

I picked the Chiefs because, until someone beats Mahomes, he is the Champion. But I also picked them yesterday because they have proven they can win and Josh Allen and the Bills haven't. In other words, Mahomes and the Chiefs are a proven commodity and Allen isn't...yet anyway. It is quite simple when you think it about that way. Again, no guarantee. But if all things are equal I can't pick against the Chiefs and I think they will win the Super Bowl too. They just know how to get it done, even with all the WR injuries.

The same holds true for me with McCarthy over Johnson and the Bears certainly could have gotten McCarthy for $13M. Perhaps even less. But, time will tell.

Q of the Week: Biggest question facing your fav team for 2025?

Will definitely happen due to sheer mathematical realities of having to happen at some point. To become a long term competitor on the state level they need the head coaches and athletic administration to become more involved in their feeder programs. Their biggest youth feeder program is a peer of Reed Custer, Plano, Manteno, and Peotone. If I was their HC or AD, there would be some uncomfortable meetings with youth sports people in those towns trying to align goals and missions.

Winning a championship at 10 or 12 years old doesn't matter. Trying to compete with LWE's feeder programs at 10 years old is how you give yourself a shot when those kids are 16 and 17. That 10 year old championship against 3A towns is actually a detriment to them ever hanging with Loyola, Maine South, etc.

JC does get some Minooka kids, but Minooka still keeps more than enough that that can't be one of the top 5 excuses.

JC's biggest question will be whether they can replace their offensive line and running backs on the offensive side and most of their defensive production. They return a promising QB and a couple DE standouts along with a LB. Wondering if we will see some ironman football from some of those guys. The rising junior LB could be a fullback or running back possibility and I could see their 235 pound DE helping out at either guard, TE, or fullback. So it's all about finding the complements to put around the few established entities they have. Schedule choice for weeks 1 and 2 looms large.
Interesting thoughts on the Minooka youth levels...I do know that the current high school staff are more involved with the Chanooka Braces and several have kids in the program....but wasn't aware of the peer situation.

Q of the Week: Biggest question facing your fav team for 2025?

Haven't followed them as closely as I used to, but are they keeping their top athletes or do they losing them to private schools? I feel like I remember that for a while there was quite a few Minooka kids going to JCA.
Will definitely happen due to sheer mathematical realities of having to happen at some point. To become a long term competitor on the state level they need the head coaches and athletic administration to become more involved in their feeder programs. Their biggest youth feeder program is a peer of Reed Custer, Plano, Manteno, and Peotone. If I was their HC or AD, there would be some uncomfortable meetings with youth sports people in those towns trying to align goals and missions.

Winning a championship at 10 or 12 years old doesn't matter. Trying to compete with LWE's feeder programs at 10 years old is how you give yourself a shot when those kids are 16 and 17. That 10 year old championship against 3A towns is actually a detriment to them ever hanging with Loyola, Maine South, etc.

JC does get some Minooka kids, but Minooka still keeps more than enough that that can't be one of the top 5 excuses.

JC's biggest question will be whether they can replace their offensive line and running backs on the offensive side and most of their defensive production. They return a promising QB and a couple DE standouts along with a LB. Wondering if we will see some ironman football from some of those guys. The rising junior LB could be a fullback or running back possibility and I could see their 235 pound DE helping out at either guard, TE, or fullback. So it's all about finding the complements to put around the few established entities they have. Schedule choice for weeks 1 and 2 looms large.

Evanston HC opening

Outside observation, looks like
1. Decision to get closer to home
2. Potentially an sizeable increase in pay, but will come with a drastic increase in cost of living compared to Kankakee area
3. Kankakee school district has had some issues in the past 5 or so years, possibly a better teaching environment.
4. Kankakee just got a new supt.

Bears

This is the part that I struggle with as well. I liked everything I heard from Johnson at his press conference, but as we know, that doesn't amount to much. However, he is a dynamic personality, who seems both very intelligent and tough. I'm encouraged by his toughness. He's not a meek and mild individual like say....Phil Emery, Mark Trestman, Ryan Pace, Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles. When I look back over George McCaskey's tenure, he seems to favor the meek and mild types. This is football after all. Strong, tough personalities are required, IMO. I like Johnson's track record. He's climbed through the ranks and excelled at every level of coaching. Will he be a good head coach? Time will tell. I'm actually surprised he wanted the job so badly. It seems the allure of the city of Chicago may have played a part in that.

After he puts together a staff, his biggest challenge may be in dealing with what I consider the ineptitude of Ryan Poles. He's had three years in the job. Look at his draft picks. Look at his trades and FA signings. I don't see difference makers. Is he all of a sudden going to be become a shrewd judge of talent? Seems unlikely. What has he done to warrant a 4th year? George seems to like him, and I guess that may be the key point as to why he is still there.
This is the most reasonable post I have read in a few weeks regarding this topic. Well said.

2025 Central State Eight Updates.

Interesting...

Idk what's in the water over there... but there's been an odd string of incidents... The Empire is definitely NOT ok...

1. Cookie-gate
2. The investigation (cover-up) of cookie-gate + DL one game soft-slap
3. The Dentist
4. "Super" Embezzlement

Hide your kids... Hide your wife... They out here white-collar popping with the greats. Nearing white-collar GOAT status for Illinois I'd presume...
All..... Chatham getting in on the "action." Show choir no less. Sigh.... 😱 Ratsy

Q of the Week: Biggest question facing your fav team for 2025?

I think he's from Skokie. According to deepdishfootball.com, he was a top recruit in 8th grade, already 6'2 and 178. He fixed his eyes on Carmel and never even at Loyola
It’s possible they live in Skokie. Small part of Skokie goes to Evanston schools. He was at an Evanston middle school. Was a really good hoops player too, don’t know if he’s playing at MC.
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Q of the Week: Biggest question facing your fav team for 2025?

You guys got Burrell from Evanston

I think he's from Skokie. According to deepdishfootball.com, he was a top recruit in 8th grade, already 6'2 and 178. He fixed his eyes on Carmel and never even glanced at Loyola..

Tough test right off the bat with Ohio POY 56 TD passes.

Their QB is an ace, but he doesn't have our squadron of topflight receivers. Nobody does, not even LWE with their recent poaching. And I'm sure that Lynch, with the help of Marty O'Brien, will find or develop another lockdown corner.

Q of the Week: Biggest question facing your fav team for 2025?

Well yeah; that's what I meant. Oles, Dersnah, Santiago. I think they do go further towards reaching their potential in 2015, 2022 and 2024 with those guys. I feel like they've had the best talent the school has ever had during Olsen's tenure, but have consistently underperformed. I'd kill to get Splitt back TBH.
He's happy at CG
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