New OC, The Pressure is on Lovie not to Make Another Mistake.........

Pressure on Bears coach

Smith will feel heat if 4th offensive coordinator isn't successful immediately

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...1/67163265.jpg Bears coach Lovie Smith. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune / December 4, 2011)

Brad Biggs 8:52 p.m. CST, January 4, 2012




When Lovie Smith hired Mike Martz two years ago, it was clearly his choice at the end of a month-long process in which Jerry Angelo suggested other candidates.

A source described it as essentially an "anyone but" situation for the general manager, but authority over the coaching staff belongs to the head coach and Smith got his man after the Bears reached out to a variety of candidates at the NFL and NCAA level.

With Martz let go Monday, Smith starts the process again, this time without the ousted Angelo in the mix.

It's well known Jay Cutler had to be cajoled into the idea of working with Martz in the first place. So it's not surprising the quarterback went to Halas Hall on Tuesday and let Smith know he was in favor of moving on without Martz before the coaches had met. (Lovie denies that he met with Cutler prior to meeting with Martz and I believe him. It wouldn't fit Lovies style to do it the other way around)

The key for Smith is to find the right man. His staff has changed considerably in eight seasons with four original members still in place. Two of his most successful assistants, special teams coordinator Dave Toub and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, came with the recommendation of former pro personnel director Bobby DePaul, who worked with both for the Eagles. Smith had the final call.

It was Smith who selected Terry Shea as offensive coordinator after consulting with Martz for someone familiar with the scheme. Ron Turner came the next year in an arranged situation. The point is Smith has handpicked two of his three offensive coordinators and the Bears are hoping the third time is the charm when it comes to the fourth coordinator in nine seasons.

"We all have made mistakes and he's going to correct it," President Ted Phillips said. "I have complete confidence in his abilities to do that."

It remains to be seen if offensive line coach Mike Tice will be considered for the position. Tice would provide continuity and begin with a clear knowledge of personnel and needs. The Bears would have to add a line coach and strong quarterbacks coach. Tice conceivably could maintain a hands-on approach with the line like defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has with the defensive line. While Tice hasn't held a coordinator role before, he did call plays at times as the Vikings' head coach.

Candidates familiar with Tice could be considered also. Brian Billick has been seeking a head position for several years but would be an interesting addition. He and Tice worked together with the Vikings when Billick directed one of the league's most potent offenses. It's expected Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will be let go. Tice worked for him in Jacksonville.

Colts offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, if let go, could be a strong candidate for the position based on his previous experience with Smith for the Buccaneers. But an NFL source said if Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey lands a head coaching job (the Jaguars and Bucs are interested in him) Christensen will go with him. The source said Mularkey will be the leading candidate in Jacksonville.

Cutler might push for Jeremy Bates, who he worked with previously with the Broncos. Bates was out of the NFL this season after one year with the Seahawks. How would Smith perceive him after Bates declined overtures from the Bears for an interview two years ago? Maybe just fine. Sources said Angelo turned off Bates.

Todd Haley doesn't have any natural ties to the situation but he's worth considering because he has proven he will adapt to the strength of his players. The Chiefs were No. 1 in the NFL in rushing last season. In 2008, when he was the offensive coordinator of the Cardinals, Arizona was ranked second in passing. The former Bears wide receivers coach (2001-03) has a reputation for developing young players but would come with a strong personality. That might mesh well with Cutler.

It's a one-man search and the pressure is on Smith. The last two times he replaced offensive coordinators, he won a division crown the next year. He might need to do that again to keep his job.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs


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We've been talking and posting so much about Angelo's firing and who the new GM will be that we've overlooked the fact that once again Lovie must find an OC who can make his offense run efficiently behind Cutler and Forte.

This article talks about some of the guys who might get some consideration for the job. This will be Lovie's search and decision and Lovie's alone and I agree that he must get this one right. If the offense doesn't improve it's hard to see the Bears competing for a championship and that will most certainly be an expectation next year.

Looking at some of the potential candidates other than Tice I was surprised to find Billick's name on the list. Whenever he announces a Bears game he usually is very critical of the team. The other factor is would he step out of the booth to take a co-ordinators job? Well maybe if he thought that would put him in the line of succession if Lovie fails. I guess we can chalk him up as a person on interest but I don't see Lovie going that way. He always seems to shy away from assistants with HC interests.

I think Todd Haley is an asshat and another egocentric just like Martz. I wouldn't let him near the team no matter what he's done in the past. He had a brief stopover here some years back and I don't remember anyhting astounding coming from it.

That leaves us with the potential promotion of Tice to OC and the possibility that the Bears and Jay Cutler may be able to persuade Jeremy Bates to come on board now that Angelo is gone. Bates has proven to be a good match mate for Cutler but how well would he work with Tice and would he accept a role as an Asst. OC/QB Coach or would he only come one board as the main OC?

Personally I like the thought of the Tice/Bates arrangement with Tice still working with the line and the running game Bates the QB's and the passing game. You might put Bates up in the booth on game day where he'd relay plays down to Tice who would call them in to Cutler. Since he's the last man in the chain that gives him a choice to overrule Bates if he thinks it's a bad call. The big question would be could the two guys work co-cooperatively enough to make it work or would there be a tug of war over the game plans and play calling?

Hard to say but Bates has worked under Mike Shanahan before and they don't come a whole lot harder to work for than him. This should be another interesting search for us to follow. Lovie has to know that there is really no margin for error plus he has the added burden of having to mollify Tice if he goes in a different direction. If that happens you can probably count on Tice leaving once his contract expires.

Problem solved so we can put this thread to rest. All that remains to be seen is whether they can bring in Jeremy Bates or it will be someone else.