Jay Cutler, Meet Shane Day: He Could Be Your New Quarterback Caddy | Bleacher Report
Jay Cutler, Meet Shane Day: He Could Be Your New Quarterback Caddy
The Chicago Bears are strongly considering hiring current 49ers offensive quality control aide Shane Day to the position of quarterbacks coach under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
The Bears received permission from Mike Singletary and the 49ers to interview Day, and apparently the
Bears have interviewed Day already, according to Brad Biggs of the
National Football Post.
So just who the heck is this guy?
According to the
San Francisco Chronicle's John Crumpacker, "Day has been with the 49ers for three years in the entry-level position of quality control, in charge of inputting the offensive game plan and other clerical work."
The rub is that Day and Martz had previously worked together with the Niners in 2008.
Also, according to Biggs, "Day also has history with new Bears tight ends coach Mike DeBord."
But what will Cutler think about this? Well, it's only speculation, but one has to presume that Cutler would think that any QB coach would be better than Pep Hamilton. It is a widely held belief that the Pepster and Cutler didn't exactly see eye to eye.
In fact, sources tell WSCR's Hub Arkush that they hardly ever spoke to each other.
Meanwhile, Day is in his third season in the NFL after being named the 49ers' quality control coach on May 21, 2007. He works closely with the offensive coaching staff on their weekly game plan and the compilation of the daily practice report, while also assisting with the offensive line.
Oh, and I hear he takes lunch orders really well.
As for his bio, Day joined the 49ers after two seasons at the University of Michigan. With the Wolverines, Day was the assistant quarterbacks and quality control coach in charge of developing the team’s young quarterbacks. His other duties included opponent film breakdown, recruiting, and various other assignments for the Wolverines staff.
Look, both Day and Martz will have their hands full with this impetuous young QB. Talented, with a rifle arm, but stubborn and coming off a mistake-prone season, let's hope that Cutler will be humbled enough to accept help and guidance from these two.
The Bears' offensive success depends on it.
Hey, a tiger doesn't change his stripes, and it's doubtful that Martz will either. His forte (sorry Matt) is throwing the ball, and throw the ball he will, so he will need to convince Cutler that he can succeed in this offense.
Maybe what Cutler needs more than confidence is the occasional reality check and slap on the wrist from coaches who aren't afraid to give it to him straight. That doesn't mean he will accept that criticism, but coddling him may not be the answer either.
Still, we all know how emotionally and mentally fragile QBs can be, blah blah blah, so Martz and his crew will have to be part coach and part amateur psychologist.
The hiring of Martz truly seems like an all or nothing proposition, destined to be phenomenally successful or to fail historically, with no in-between.
It will also be fascinating to watch the interplay among Martz, Rod Marinelli (who may become the Bears DC) and Mike Tice. According to many, the three don't like each other. Marinelli once fired Martz, while Tice likes to run the ball.
Sounds like a match made in hell.
But if Day can do anything to keep Cutler away from all that and focus on the field, he will have earned his pay.
You see, the QB coach is much more than someone who tinkers with technique. He tinkers with the mindset and psyche of the QB, first and foremost, and given Cutler's history, this is a job I wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy.
But it would be a promotion for Day, so I would be shocked if it didn't happen, possibly as early as today.
It may not seem like an important position, but on a team that depends on the arm of its QB as much as the Bears will, the QB coach is more than filler on a slow news day.
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