Bengals running back Joe Mixon said recently that the team¡¯s
success is going to shock a lot of people this season.One person who won¡¯t be
shocked is his teammate A.J. Green. Green has talked often this offseason about
the new feel and new energy around the team since Zac Taylor became the head
coach and he said this week that he believes that will pay off with a spot in
the postseason.Green pointed out that the Bengals were off to a winning start ¡ª
5-3 in the first half of the year ¡ª in 2018 before injuries to himself and
others made contending a pipe dream.¡°I think so. We are. If everyone stays
healthy
Devin
Bush Jersey , the sky¡¯s the limit for this offense,�? Green said, via the
team¡¯s website. ¡°Last year, we were averaging [28] points a game . . . We have
talent. We have a great back. We have great receivers. We have a great line.
We¡¯ve got a great defense. We just have to put everything together and everybody
stays healthy.¡±Taylor warned against looking too far ahead, but adds that ¡°we
certainly love the confidence¡± that players have expressed about how 2019 will
unfold. Getting the team fully prepared to back up that confidence will be one
of Taylor¡¯s chief tasks in training camp. LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP)John Fox helped
change the culture in the Chicago Bears¡¯ locker room. He just didn¡¯t produce
enough wins to keep his job. The Bears fired Fox on Monday after three losing
seasons, ending one of the least successful coaching stints in team history.
¡±Today is the tough part of our results-oriented
business
http://www.steelersfootballauthentics.com/diontae-johnson-je rsey-authentic ,¡±
he said in a statement. While Fox was let go after a 5-11 finish, general
manager Ryan Pace got a contract extension through the 2021 season. ¡±We think we
have the right structure and we think we have the right people in those
positions,¡± chairman George McCaskey said. ¡±We¡¯ve seen some results in terms of
player development and relying primarily on the draft for that development. We
just haven¡¯t seen those results on the field in wins and we¡¯re looking forward
to that.¡± Chicago has had four consecutive losing seasons ¨C each with 10 or more
losses. The Bears haven¡¯t finished above .500 since they let Lovie Smith go
following a 10-6 finish in 2012. They haven¡¯t been to the playoffs since 2010.
Hired shortly after the Bears brought in Pace, Fox leaves with a 14-34 record in
three seasons and a .292 winning percentage that ranks as the second lowest in
franchise history. Only Abe Gibron was worse ¨C 11-30-1 (.274) from 1972-74. ¡±Our
record is a reflection on me as well,¡± Pace said. ¡±But I feel good about where
we¡¯re at right now. I feel much better about where we¡¯re at right now than at
this time last year and that starts with the quarterback position.¡± President
Ted Phillips apparently sees the same things. ¡±I see the young talent,¡± he said.
¡±The locker room is a great atmosphere. The players believe in themselves.¡± Pace
said the Bears had not ¡±officially¡± asked permission to interview other teams¡¯
assistants and that they¡¯re open to coaches with offensive or defensive
backgrounds. He would not say if Vic Fangio is in the running or if he hopes to
retain him as defensive coordinator. Pace would not say,
either
Justin
Layne Jersey , roughly how many candidates he hopes to interview or what
traits he¡¯s seeking in a coach. Though McCaskey and Phillips will have input,
Pace made it clear the decision on the coach is his. He also said he will
continue to have final say on the roster. The next coach will have to get the
most out of Mitchell Trubisky. After all, Pace staked his reputation to the
quarterback when he traded up a spot with San Francisco to draft him with the
No. 2 overall pick last spring. Fox is 133-123 in 16 seasons as a head coach and
is one of six coaches to lead two teams to Super Bowl appearances, joining Don
Shula, Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves, Dick Vermeil and Mike Holmgren. Fox helped
orchestrate quick turnarounds while leading Carolina and Denver to a combined
six division titles and seven playoff appearances in 13 years before he took
over Chicago in January 2015. But his time with the Bears was forgettable. Fox
helped restore some of the professionalism that was missing under former GM Phil
Emery and coach Marc Trestman. But Fox¡¯s conservative approach and some
questionable decisions during games were sore spots. The Bears were 3-15 against
the NFC North and dropped all six division games this past season. ¡±I think he
built a
foundation
http://www.steelersfootballauthentics.com/benny-snell-jr.-je rsey-authentic ,¡±
linebacker Sam Acho said. ¡±I think the success that he had here, we¡¯re not going
to see until later. Whether I¡¯m on this team or not, I think you¡¯re going to see
success in the future.¡± Cornerback Prince Amukamara said there were plenty of
hugs for Fox when he met with the team Monday. ¡±Great, passionate coach,¡± he
said. ¡±Didn¡¯t give up on us, didn¡¯t quit on us and that¡¯s very special for a
head coach.¡± Injuries exposing a lack of depth have been a major issue since the
regime change. Pace has had some big hits in the draft such as star running back
Jordan Howard (2016, fifth round) and notable misses such as oft-injured
receiver Kevin White
(2015
Zach
Gentry Jersey , first round). His record in free agency is shaky, and he
has struggled to replace some talented players no longer with the team such as
receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, tight end Martellus Bennett and
kicker Robbie Gould. The Bears will need to bring in play-making receivers. But
with the presence of Trubisky, Howard and running back Tarik Cohen and a
promising defense led by end Akiem Hicks, tackle Eddie Goldman and linebacker
Leonard Floyd, Pace insisted the team is in a better spot than it was three
years ago. He also feels more comfortable in his position. ¡±I feel very
comfortable in my shoes, I feel very
confident
L.J.
Collier Jersey , and I have a lot of good people and a lot of resources
around me to help me attack this,¡± Pace said. ¡ª