Thread: Mel Tucker is new DC?

Chris Harris likes Mel:

LINK

Former Bears and Jaguars safety Chris Harris called him an "outstanding coach."

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

ANyone have any thoughts on this that knows what he has done pretty well? I'm kind of thinking it is a step down from Marinelli, but most people would be.

People here are keying in on the fact that the Jax D finished 30th this year, so its hari-kari time. But if you look a little deeper...he was DC in Cleveland in 08, their D finished 7th (jax was 16th that year), he moves to same position in Jax in 09, they finished 10th, and 5th in 2011. So he DOES have a track record of success in the NFL, but like anything...player personell changes, schedule, and other factors can lead to a disappointing season like they had this year on D (then again, he was ass't HC this year, NOT DC)

Also...people need to calm their expectations. Yes, having a consistent top-10 DC is preferable, but the problem is...those TOP DCs? Teams usually hold on to them, which is why its asinine to assume you can grab one. So your choices are either to hire an assistant or position coach that is excellent, and promote him to DC (like we did with Marinelli), or find a DC that is "good" but has his faults. Before the Bears promoted Marinelli to DC, do you know the last time he held that position with a team? 1975. Rosemead HS. After that, he has only ever been a DL coach or Assistant HC (and Lions HC).

And remember that Tucker has ALOT to work with here in Chicago. IF anyone is going to struggle, it will be Trestman and our Offensive coaches. They are the ones with their work cut out for them. I wouldnt be too worried about Tucker.

Honestly, I'm feeling nervous about the D, but I think they couldn't fall out of the top ten, unless Urlacher is allowed to leave. As long as the scheme doesn't change from them relying on turnovers.

Originally Posted by Jimmors

People here are keying in on the fact that the Jax D finished 30th this year, so its hari-kari time. But if you look a little deeper...he was DC in Cleveland in 08, their D finished 7th (jax was 16th that year), he moves to same position in Jax in 09, they finished 10th, and 5th in 2011. So he DOES have a track record of success in the NFL, but like anything...player personell changes, schedule, and other factors can lead to a disappointing season like they had this year on D (then again, he was ass't HC this year, NOT DC)

Also...people need to calm their expectations. Yes, having a consistent top-10 DC is preferable, but the problem is...those TOP DCs? Teams usually hold on to them, which is why its asinine to assume you can grab one. So your choices are either to hire an assistant or position coach that is excellent, and promote him to DC (like we did with Marinelli), or find a DC that is "good" but has his faults. Before the Bears promoted Marinelli to DC, do you know the last time he held that position with a team? 1975. Rosemead HS. After that, he has only ever been a DL coach or Assistant HC (and Lions HC).

And remember that Tucker has ALOT to work with here in Chicago. IF anyone is going to struggle, it will be Trestman and our Offensive coaches. They are the ones with their work cut out for them. I wouldnt be too worried about Tucker.

Well said Jimmors! One of the reasons Rod Marinelli went from having one of the worst HC records NFL history to becoming to top ten DC has A LOT to do with the defensive personnel on this team. We had the players and the scheme to make him successful in that role and Tucker will have those same players and from what I've read he runs a similar defense so let's see how it works.

Looking at it logically it would no sense at all to hire a guy who wants to come in a run a blitzing 3-4 like Capers runs in GB. Emery isn't selecting these guys Trestman is but it's Emery who's hiring them and he certainly has some input and both he and Trestman have said that. So if we've trusted this much so far let's figure that Tucker was the best guy for the job who was available and wanted to work in Chicago.

Marnelli was asked to stay and he refused so he can get screwed. There should be no remaining sense of loyalty to him. He deserted his team and his players. Tucker is the new sheriff so what he has to do is get those guys believing in him now like they did with Lovie and Marinelli. These guys are pros so they need to step up and play for the guy. End of story.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

That's actually a really good point.

I don't like taking steps back. Seeing a person with potential is the key. I think Emery can do that. I am not sure about Trestman yet, but some of the new guys on the board from Canada say he is good at it. Emery has said that he wants people with a record of excellence at their prior positions, and the last few hires don't reflect that. Not sure if it's because it's there and I'm not seeing it, because he is not making these hires, or that they were just the best we could get right now.

Obviously, I like the first option best

How much of their history are you looking at brother? Just like Jimmors was saying if all you look at is what Tucker did last year or Peete or Cavanaugh you don't see very much unless that's all you want to see. You can't tell what a room likes like and how the furniture is arranged by looking through a keyhole and I see a lot of that going on around here today and yesterday.

Trestman may be selecting these guy but Phil Emery hires them and if he had any fundamental objections to any of them I'm sure it would have been discussed. I hate that term, "a step backwards". That just a perception based on personal opinions coupled with very few facts. The same thing happened when Trestman's name came up before anyone took the time to see what he was really all about and what he'd accomplished as a coach.

Now some of you are at it with the hiring of assistants and I don't mean just you houston. This isn't directed just at you. It's directed at the forum in general. Some of you guys are so used to not trusting the judgement of the Bears front office that you can't make yourselves believe that it's not that way anymore.

Phil Emery is light years ahead of Jerry Angelo and just from listening to Trestman's presser he is about as different from Lovie Smith as anyone you could find. He doesn't speak in trite phrases like "we get off the bus running" or "my glass is half full". He's not your folksy rural Texas boy. He's gonna tell exactly what he intends to do and you better be prepared for some pretty technical and thorough answers because he's got 'em if you want 'em.

Look at it this way. There is no way that Trestman could ever hire anyone to coach any position on this team that is gonna be worse than Terry Shea was as an OC in Lovie's rookie year. Remember that!

I really don't have a very strong opinion on this to be honest with you, so I'll preface my comment with that. That being said, I do believe that we have to give whoever the defensive coordinator is going to be -- Mel Tucker or Raheem Morris -- a fair shake here. Like what has been said, we have All-Pros at defensive end, defensive tackle, middle linebacker, right outside linebacker, and both cornerbacks, so I'm really not worried how our defense is going to fare because we have studs all over the place. What needs a little tender loving care is this offense. Our offense just finished ranked 30th in the entire NFL because our offensive coordinator was a total and complete fool who didn't know his ass from a hole in a wall when it came to diagramming passing routes, run blocking schemes, etc.

Worry about something else other than the defense, like, say, the offense. The defense will still stop the Packers. If we can score 27 or 28 points a game, we'll win the division this year.