Kevin Byard only worked under Matt Eberflus for half of a season. Yet in that time, it didn’t take the former All-Pro long to realize something was wrong with the former Chicago Bears head coach. He didn’t say anything at the time. How could he? It would’ve created unnecessary drama when the team didn’t need it. However, the season is about to end now. Chicago’s last game comes Sunday in Green Bay. It appears the veteran safety felt the time was finally right for him to air some grievances about Eberflus.
Keep in mind he never mentioned the name. His comments were more about what makes a good head coach. That sure didn’t stop him from taking thinly veiled shots at Eberflus via an interview with Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. Let’s just say he didn’t hold back.
“I’ve always believed a great head coach operates more like the CEO of the organization,” Byard said. “At the end of the day, this isn’t about scheme. Everybody has great scheme. It’s more about the little things you have to establish as a head coach.
“There are certain things you just can’t let slide. And personally, I think we have had a lot of things happen here this year that have been let go too easily.”
“You address mistakes on the spot,” Byard said. “Like, if you have children and they step out of line, you address it on the spot. If you don’t address it and think you’re going to get changed behavior, good luck. And for us, I think there were little mistakes that would happen and wouldn’t be addressed properly.”
Kevin Byard knew what he was seeing.
Don’t forget he spent most of his career under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. The former Titans coach was notorious for his discipline and attention to detail. So once he started experiencing Eberflus’ approach, he must’ve realized it could become problematic. As the season spiraled out of control following the Hail Mary loss in Washington, there was no longer any confusion about what the problem was. Several players hinted at it for weeks. There wasn’t enough accountability or discipline. When Eberflus tried to instill some, it was far too late. Nobody took him seriously. Kevin Byard can only hope the Bears learn from that mistake.
Winning teams are run by coaches who care about the little things. Say what you want about Mike Ditka, but he was notorious for getting bent out of shape when players didn’t do the little things right. Lovie Smith was that way, too. The personality doesn’t have to be a specific type. It is the approach that must stand out.
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One could definitely make the case that he was too busy running the defense to manage the team. He should be meeting with the OC and DC to go over game plans not creating them.
@Arnie — We don’t know what goes on at Halas Hall — but… ▪︎. Wasn’t DJ Moore the player who brought his kids to the facility? ▪︎. And, wasn’t it Jaylon Johnson that told the media he asked a teammate to help him with a little extra work after practice, and was rejected because the player had to take care of his kids? ▪︎. And how much help has DJ ever provided to: Darnell Mooney, Velus Jones Jr. and Tyler Scott? ▪︎ Forget about Rome Odunze and whether Moore even talks to Keenan Allen. We’ll see how long he lasts… Read more »
@batteredup —
I think you could put Andy Reid in that group.
He’s the nice grandpa on the TV commercials — but that’s a no-nonsense crew.
Did Byard want Stevenson “gone?” Or was he yearning for discipline? A disciplined player would have his head in the game at all times. If Ditka was his coach, TS wouldn’t even hear the crowd because he’d know he’d be on the waiver wire Monday morning talking to Forrest Gregg about a job if he pulled that kinda crap. A competent coach would’ve called time out when TS was out of position. It’s hard to believe that there wasn’t even one teammate attentive enough (other than CW on the sideline next to the HC) to scream at Tyrique to get… Read more »
@TGena We definitely disagree about what kind of player DJ Moore is. I don’t see the typical WR diva you describe. I see a guy who is frustrated with the results, and how the offense is functioning, not because of his concern for his own stats but because he’s tired of the offense failing and the team losing while coaches seem to do nothing about it. It makes me think that our disagreement is a bit of a chicken and egg situation though because all the players you keep referencing are players that are on a winning team with high… Read more »