Windy City Gridiron - Marc Trestman named new head coach of Chicago BearsA Chicago Bears communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49985/windy-fav.png2013-02-14T16:30:20-06:00http://www.windycitygridiron.com/rss/stream/36469332013-02-14T16:30:20-06:002013-02-14T16:30:20-06:00Chicago Bears coaching staff update
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<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>New Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman has had a busy first few of weeks on the job filling up his coaching staff. Here's a run down of where they stand on the hires.</p> <p>As part of the "New and Improved" Windy City Gridiron, we have these newfangled things called Story Streams that allow us to group all like minded articles together. The story streams are a little more focused that our Sections drop down menu, but if your looking for something in particular that drop down menu is a good place to start.</p>
<p>Once Marc Trestman was hired we created a story stream to group all the coaching hires together. Some of those articles were a run down of the new coaches bios, some were an Xs and Os look at what Bears fans can expect from the new staff, and some were simply press release type informative posts from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>. You can access that full story stream <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/16/3882892/marc-trestman-named-new-head-coach-of-chicago-bears">here</a> if you want a timeline of the last month.</p>
<p>For more info on Trestman, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/16/3880480/marc-trestman-chicago-bears-head-coach-introduction-search-update">you can click here</a>, and for more on the assistant coaches just click on the link that is included in their coaching title.</p>
<p><b>The Chicago Bears offensive coaching staff is as follows;</b></p>
<p><b>Aaron Kromer </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/16/3882238/bears-coaches-chicago-hires-aaron-kromer-for-offensive-coordinator-line-trestman-head-search-update"><b>- Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line -</b></a><b></b> While with his last employer, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>, Kromer worked as a running backs coach, and as an offensive line / running game coach.<br><b>Pat Meyer <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/24/3887644/chicago-bears-coaching-update-marc-trestman-adds-pat-meyer-as-coach">- Assistant Offensive Line -</a></b> Last year in Montreal, Meyer held the same title as Kromer does with the Bears this season.<br><b>Matt Cavanaugh <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/18/3890616/chicago-bears-announce-two-new-assistants-matt-cavanaugh-qb-and-skip-peete-coach-search-update">- Quarterbacks -</a></b> Cavanaugh was the Bears offensive coordinator in 1997 and 1998, working under Dave Wannstedt, and the legendary Moses Moreno started a game at QB for him in '98.<br><b>Andy Bischoff</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/18/3887754/chicago-bears-coaching-update-marc-trestman-adds-andy-bischoff-as"> <b>- Tight Ends -</b></a> The last five years Bischoff was with the running backs coach in Montreal.<br><b>Skip Peete</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/17/3888178/chicago-bears-add-skip-peete-as-running-backs-coach"><b> - Running Backs -</b></a><b></b> In 2009 the Dallas running backs rushed for the 10th best yards per carry in the history of the NFL with Peete as their coach.<br><b>Carson Walch - Offensive Quality Control -</b> Last year Walch was WR coach for Trestman in Montreal.<br><b>Brendan Nugent - Offensive Quality Control -</b> In 2012 Nugent was a special teams assistant and offensive quality control coach in Montreal.</p>
<p>The Bears are still looking for the right guy to task with coaching up the wide outs;</p>
<p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Trestman: "I think we are close to a resolution" in terms of hiring a wide receivers coach.</p>&mdash; Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) <a href="https://twitter.com/BradBiggs/status/302121368814747648">February 14, 2013</a></blockquote><br><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>The Chicago Bears defensive coaching staff is as follows;</b></p>
<p><b>Mel Tucker <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/23/3902038/chicago-bears-playbook-defensive-coordinator-mel-tucker-4-3-defense">- Defensive Coordinator -</a></b> Tucker is already on record saying that he will retain the terminology and scheme from Rod Marinelli.<br><b>Jon Hoke</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/19/3894814/jon-hoke-and-mike-phair-to-remain-on-chicago-bears-coaching-staff-gil"><b> - Defensive Backs -</b></a><b></b> Hoke will begin his 5th season with Chicago<br><b>Mike Phair <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/19/3894814/jon-hoke-and-mike-phair-to-remain-on-chicago-bears-coaching-staff-gil">- Defensive Line -</a></b> 2013 will be Phair's 3rd year with the Bears.<br><b>Michael Sinclair <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/18/3887754/chicago-bears-coaching-update-marc-trestman-adds-andy-bischoff-as">- Assistant Defensive Line -</a></b> Besides coaching from 2005-2012, Sinclair played 11 seasons in the NFL, being named to the Pro Bowl three times.<br><b>Tim Tibesar</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/28/3926736/bears-add-three-more-to-coaching-staff"><b> - Linebackers -</b></a><b></b> Besides his experience coaching linebackers, Tibesar also has worked as defensive coordinator, tight ends coach, and as special teams coordinator.<br><b>Sean Desai <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/28/3926736/bears-add-three-more-to-coaching-staff">- Defensive Quality Control -</a></b> Last year Desai was the running backs / special teams coach for Boston College.<br><b>Chris Harris</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/28/3925652/chicago-bears-hire-chris-harris-as-defensive-quality-control-coach"> <b>- Defensive Quality Control -</b></a> Harris was notorious for his film work while a player in the NFL, and his experience with the Lovie regime and with new D.C. Mel Tucker will help ease the transition for the current players.</p>
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<p><b>The Chicago Bears special teams and strength and conditioning staff is as follows;</b></p>
<p><b>Joe DeCamillis </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/16/3882804/chicago-bears-hire-joe-decamillis-as-assistant-head-coach-special"><b>- Special Teams Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach -</b></a><b></b> DeCamillis brings 25 years of NFL coaching experience with him to the Bears, and was interviewed this off season for the head coaching vacancy in Chicago.<br><b>Dwayne Stukes <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/28/3926736/bears-add-three-more-to-coaching-staff">- Assistant Special Teams -</a></b> Stukes is a 4 year NFL vet as a player, and in 2011 he was the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> Special teams Coordinator.<br><b>Mike Clark - Strength and Conditioning Coordinator -</b> Clark is a member of the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame.<br><b>Jim Arthur - Strength and Conditioning -</b> 2013 will be Arthur's 9th year in Chicago.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There's been a spattering of Bears fans that have been complaining about the lack of NFL experience with the current staff, and griping that there's too much of a CFL influence at Halas Hall. For those of you that are still holding onto this belief, I direct you to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/17740860-419/bears-marc-trestman-builds-staff-differently-than-lovie-smith.html">Sun Times article written by Mark Potash</a> from January 22:</p>
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<p>...seven of the nine coaches Trestman hired have a combined 103 years of NFL experience, including 80 at the position they were hired to coach.</p>
<p>...it's in stark contrast to Lovie Smith's first staff in 2004. His 16 assistants had a combined 29 years of NFL experience and only nine years of experience at the position they were hired to coach.</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/2/14/3937188/chicago-bears-coaching-staff-updateLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2013-01-24T20:36:10-06:002013-01-24T20:36:10-06:00Pat Meyer hired as assistant offensive line coach
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<p>Marc Trestman continues to fill up his coaching staff. His latest hire coached with him in the CFL and at NC State.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> have hired former Montreal Alouettes offensive line coach Pat Meyer to be their assistant offensive line coach. He'll assist new offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Aaron Kromar.</p>
<p>Like Trestman, Meyer has experience in American Football, and like GM Phil Emery, he has a background as a strength coach.</p>
<p>Not only did Trestman and Meyer work the 2012 season together in Montreal, but their paths crossed at North Carolina State. When Trestman was the offensive coordinator of the Wolfpack in 2005 and 2006, Meyer was in charge of the entire athletic department's strength programs, a position he held from 04-06.</p>
<p>Besides coaching the offensive line, Meyer also was offensive coordinator at Colorado State in 2010 and 2011.</p>
<p>As a player, he was an offensive lineman for Colorado State, he had a cup of coffee with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> in 1995, and he spent a season in the AFL.</p>
<p>For a look at his full bio, you can <a target="_blank" href="http://en.montrealalouettes.com/page/pat-meyer">click here</a> to visit the Montreal Alouettes site.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/24/3887644/chicago-bears-coaching-update-marc-trestman-adds-pat-meyer-as-coachLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2013-01-23T15:12:20-06:002013-01-23T15:12:20-06:00Bears Playbook - The Mel Tucker 4-3 Defense
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<figcaption>Al Messerschmidt</figcaption>
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<p>New Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will be running a 4-3 in Chicago. Here's a look at how Tucker lined his players up against a familiar foe: the Green Bay Packers.</p> <p>Marc Trestman didn't patronize <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> fans at his introductory press conference with promises to beat the Packers. Promise or no, the road to the NFC North crown still goes through Green Bay. We'll have to wait until the 2013 season starts to see how Trestman attacks the Green Bay defense, but through a stroke of scheduling luck, we don't have to guess at how new defensive coordinator would match up against the Packers.</p>
<p>During Week 8 of the 2012 season, Mike Mularkey led his <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jaguars</a> into Lambeau Field to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. While the Jacksonville offense put up an anemic fifteen points, Mel Tucker's Jaguar defense gave <span>Aaron Rodgers</span> and company a run for their money. Despite their well-deserved reputation for mediocrity, the Jaguar D held the Packers to only 24 points. Considering the Bears held Green Bay to only one point fewer than this when the two teams played in Lambeau, I would give Tucker's former squad due credit for their work.</p>
<p>At the line of scrimmage, Tucker's defense will continue in the Lovie Smith model of a four-man, one-gap front. Witness:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Runplay1_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053717/RunPlay1_large.jpe"></p>
<p>Yes, Virginia, it'll be a 4-3. This alignment is a vanilla single-gap 4-3 defense - the same thing the Bears have run for the last nine years. Hopefully Tucker can defend the run better when he gets to work with better players, because his line got zero push on this particular play.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Runplay2_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053845/RunPlay2_large.jpe"></p>
<p>This basic run defense was the right call against this play, but there was simply no execution. When every single defensive linesman gets pushed backwards, the running back could become a walking back and still get yards.</p>
<p>While Jacksonville proved vulnerable to the run, their D was more resilient against the pass. Indeed, Jacksonville had surprisingly good luck using an all-too-familiar defense. Consider this pre-snap defensive alignment on the Packers' second play:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Tampatworeview_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2047763/TampaTwoReview_large.jpg"></p>
<p>Mel Tucker won't have much of a problem teaching the Bears defense this play call - it is the same Tampa 2 shell that Lovie Smith used as the Bears' base defense. The cornerbacks cover the short zones on each sideline, each safety takes a deep third, and the middle linebacker drops back to play center field.</p>
<p>Aaron Rodgers doesn't need to double-check this defense, as he can easily read the Tampa 2 alignment before the snap. Here's his play call in response:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2052681/TwoTEvsTampaTwo1.jpe" target="_blank"><img alt="Twotevstampatwo1_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2052681/TwoTEvsTampaTwo1_large.jpe"></a></p>
<p>We've all seen plays like this one work wonders against the Bears' Tampa 2. In formations like this, Rodgers loves to exploit the match-up between his TE, <span>Jermichael Finley</span> (88), and the linebacker or nickel back across from him. Mel Tucker's no idiot, though: he knows the TE is a dangerous weapon against this Tampa 2. To counter the mismatch Finley often creates, Tucker moves his left cornerback - the 6'1" <span>Aaron Ross</span> (31) - to cover Finley.</p>
<p>Finley still has a size advantage over Ross, but Ross proved fast enough to make up for the size difference. Ross kept his eyes on Rodgers, broke on the ball at just the right time, and forced an incompletion. Here is the play right before the ball comes out:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Twotevstampatwo2_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2052689/TwoTEvsTampaTwo2_large.jpe"></p>
<p>Rodgers thought he had an easy completion here, but Tucker had the right man in the right place. It's good to see that Tucker has a response to this TE seam pass better than vaguely smiling while his linebackers get beat in pass coverage.</p>
<p>Some other TE passing routes are a bit tougher to defend. Take this gem by the Packers from later in the quarter:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Finleytetoseam1_good_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053467/FinleyTEToSeam1_good_large.jpe"></p>
<p>With five receivers running routes for Rodgers, someone was bound to get open in the outlined-in-red Jacksonville zones. Finley's (88) crossing route is Rodgers' preferred option, as the QB knows he'll have two men in the free safety's ("FS") zone a few seconds into the play. If Rodgers has time for his routes to develop, the free safety will be in a pretty tough spot.</p>
<p>It's ironic that Finley's route takes him to the right of the offensive formation, because Tucker has a laid a pretty clever trap for Rodgers on the other side. The two defensive backs at the line of scrimmage are playing man - something that should make Rodgers salivate - but the strong safety is disguising his plan to cover the deep left zone. The SS takes a quick step inside as if he were defending Finley one-on-one, then quickly bails back into his zone. If Rodgers was looking left here, he might have ended up finding a wide-open safety instead of a wide-open receiver.</p>
<p>On the right side, however, it's a "pure" Tampa 2. Finley's route is designed to beat zone coverage, and it does its job admirably. The look we get as Finley catches the ball, however, makes me think the safety play is a bit suspect.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053549/FinleyTEToSeam2.jpe" target="_blank"><img alt="Finleytetoseam2_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2053549/FinleyTEToSeam2_large.jpe"></a> <br id="1358909175026"></p>
<p>There's something to be said for a safety making sure nothing gets behind him, but five yards is a pretty <strike>cowardly</strike> generous cushion to play with.</p>
<p>There are two ways to defend against a play like this using a Tampa 2 shell, and the safety being a couple steps closer to the deepest receiver would have been one of them. The other would have been for the Jaguars to have a real pass rush, but Jacksonville's line is suspect at best. Replace their defensive ends with Peppers and Wootton and their free safety with <span>Major Wright</span>, and this play might get stopped.</p>
<p>Mel Tucker will certainly add his own flavor to the Bears' 4-3 defense, but his hire is not a dramatic shift away from the Lovie Smith era. Considering the success Lovie Smith's defenses had over the years, that is not necessarily a bad thing. A former defensive back and a long-time DB coach, Tucker should have no problem coming up with creative ways to confuse QBs with coverage. Mix in Tucker's wrinkles to the more classic 4-3 looks we've seen over the last nine years, and you've got a recipe for continued defensive success.</p>
<p>After having made something from nothing in Jacksonville, Mel Tucker must feel like a kid in a candy store in Chicago. If this game is any indication, he'll be able to treat the NFC North to all the defense they can stomach.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/23/3902038/chicago-bears-playbook-defensive-coordinator-mel-tucker-4-3-defenseSteve Ronkowski2013-01-21T17:15:04-06:002013-01-21T17:15:04-06:00Who is Chicago Bears DC Mel Tucker?
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<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann</figcaption>
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<p>Having worked for two of the worst franchises in the NFL and achieving only minimal success, is Mel Tucker the man to keep the Bears defense on track? A look at the full career of the new Bears defensive coordinator.</p> <p>Many suspected that head coaching candidate Darrell Bevell would have been the former Badger who ended up on the Chicago Bears sideline this season. While Phil Emery ended up deciding against Bevell for the head coach position, the Bears did find another Wisconsin football player for the coaching roster. Meet Mel Tucker.</p>
<p>As a player, Tucker had a good run of luck at the University of Wisconsin. He rode into Madison as part of Barry Alvarez's <a target="_blank" href="http://host.madison.com/sports/college/football/badgers-football-jaguars-mel-tucker-says-he-s-not-interested/article_4134b416-4325-11e2-8dae-0019bb2963f4.html">first recruiting class</a> in 1990 and rolled out with two straight bowl wins, including a 1993 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA. Tucker drew no interest from NFL teams as a player, but he stuck with the game as a coach. After a few years away from football, he returned to be an assistant coach at another Big 10 program, Michigan State, in 1997.</p>
<p>Having already learned defense from veteran coach Barry Alvarez as a player, Tucker was blessed with the chance to continue his development as a defensive coach under another guru of college defenses, Michigan State HC Nick Saban. Over the two years Tucker worked for Saban, Tucker's defensive backs recorded interceptions at clip of over one a game and posted strong pass defense numbers.</p>
<p>After a one-year stint at Miami of Ohio in 1999, Tucker rejoined Saban, who had since moved to Louisiana State University, for the 2000 season. While here, Tucker led the defensive backfield to the tune of 16 interceptions as part of an overall defense ranked in the top third of college football despite having the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-state/2001-roster.html">tenth-hardest </a>overall schedule. With Tucker's assistance, LSU prevailed through this tough schedule to win the SEC Championship.</p>
<p>After all this bouncing around, Tucker finally found a long-term coaching job in 2001 at his third Big 10 school, Ohio State. Arriving as part of then-new HC Jim Tressel's staff, Tucker coached the Buckeye DBs from 2001-03 and then was promoted to defensive "co-coordinator" for the 2004 season. While Tucker was with the team, the defense never ranked below 28th in the nation in terms of points allowed, and Ohio State won three straight bowl games including the 2002 National Championship - not too shabby.</p>
<p>Ohio State's high profile in the football world put Tucker on the NFL map, and in 2005 he was hired away by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> to resume his work as a defensive backs coach. Working for another member of the Bill Belicheck coaching tree - Romeo Crennel - Tucker got major production out of his position group. Over his four-year run in Cleveland, the Browns ranked fifth overall in interceptions (73) and fourth overall in passes of over 20 yards allowed (78).</p>
<p>His one year as the defensive coordinator in Cleveland wasn't all that impressive on the surface - the team ranked sixteenth in points allowed and in the bottom half of every rushing stat. Look past the top-line stats, however, and the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/2008.htm">2008 Browns </a>defense shows some signs of competent coaching despite a somewhat talentless roster. The 2008 Browns had the second most interceptions in the NFL, an impressive stat considering that the Browns had the third fewest passing attempts thrown against them and languished in sack statistics.</p>
<p>At least one NFL mind was impressed with Mel Tucker's work in Cleveland, as Tucker immediately found work as a defensive coordinator after he was fired along with Romeo Crennel in 2008. Tucker was hired by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> to be the team's DC. After coaching a 3-4 defense the previous season, Tucker switched back to a 4-3 defense under head coach and defensive mastermind Jack Del Rio.</p>
<p>On first glance, his defensive record in Jacksonville seems somewhat suspect. <b> </b></p>
<p><b>Jaguars Defensive Stats -</b></p>
<p>2009: 24th in points allowed, 23rd in yards allowed, 28th in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef2009">DVOA</a></p>
<p>2010: 27th in points allowed, 28th in yards allowed, 32nd in DVOA</p>
<p>2011: 11th in points allowed, 6th in yards allowed, 5th in DVOA</p>
<p>2012: 29th in points allowed, 30th in yards allowed, 28th in DVOA</p>
<p>(Note: Tucker's "big board" of NFL stats can be found <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/TuckMe0.htm">here</a>.)</p>
<p>If we dig a bit deeper into these numbers, we can again find a silver lining. First of all, Tucker was not the defensive play-caller until 2011 - HC Jack Del Rio was. The team immediately jumped up in the rankings when Tucker took over, going from the absolute worst all the way into the top five.</p>
<p>Five was also the magic number for the 2012 season, as Tucker only had five starters play all 16 games for him on defense last season. Given that Jacksonville's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/2012_roster.htm">starting roster</a> isn't that great to begin with, I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt that he could have done better with better, healthier players.</p>
<p>Tucker's <a target="_blank" href="http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2011-11-30/story/low-key-mel-tucker-takes-center-stage-jaguars-coach#ixzz1fCoNup4g">press conference</a> after his 2011 promotion to interim head coach gives a good hint at why Emery and Trestman must have liked the guy: he comes off very much as a Lovie Smith style "player's coach" with the "player development above all else" philosophy of a Rod Marinelli. Plus, Tucker's range of experience in both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses should give him the ability to help adapt his schemes to fit the strengths of the Bears roster.</p>
<p>While the Bears DC job is a prize on its own because of the franchise's reputation, Tucker could continue to be a man on the move if he does well in Chicago. Only 42, Tucker <a target="_blank" href="http://host.madison.com/sports/college/football/badgers-football-jaguars-mel-tucker-says-he-s-not-interested/article_4134b416-4325-11e2-8dae-0019bb2963f4.html">passed on a chance</a> to be the head coach at the University of Wisconsin. By refusing a college HC job that he very well could have held for life, Tucker has shown his sights are firmly set on NFL success and a chance to be a non-interim head coach in the future.</p>
<p>Regardless of where Tucker's career is taking him, there is no question about the quality of his background. The Bears' new DC has studied the game under some great defensive minds: Alvarez, Tressel, Crennel, Saban, and Jack Del Rio. This range of knowledge should serve the Bears well. Tucker has some big shoes to fill, it's true. But as a motivated young coach with a talent-filled roster, Mel Tucker has what it takes to maintain the fearsome reputation of the Bears defense.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/21/3899918/who-is-mel-tucker-chicago-bears-defensive-coordinatorSteve Ronkowski2013-01-19T19:00:03-06:002013-01-19T19:00:03-06:00Building a Coaching Staff in Three Days
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<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>How did the Bears go from having no head coach to nearly completing their staff in three days? We look at Phil Emery's approach.</p> <p>It'd be pretty easy to say that things got a little out of control for Phil Emery and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> after the season ended. I mean, the day after the season ended, Lovie Smith was fired, the search for the head coach was on and Lovie's staff assistants were in limbo, many notified they were not returning. After fourteen or sixteen candidates and just over two weeks of interviews and information gathering, Emery had his head coach, and today, three days later, Emery and Marc Trestman nearly had to fill out an entire staff but for a few notable exceptions.</p>
<p>So Trestman's staff so far consists of the few Lovie-Smith-Regime holdovers, a couple guys he worked with in Oakland and San Francisco, and quite a few of the guys he coached with in the CFL. It might be a bit of a buddy system, sure, but consider this.</p>
<p>Rod Marinelli elected not to come back to the Bears because he wanted a fresh start after Lovie Smith gave him (reluctantly for Marinelli) the defensive coordinator job. Mike Martz came to the Bears because he worked with Lovie on the "Greatest Show on Turf" <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a>. In 2004 during the head coaching search, Terry Shea came to the Bears as Lovie Smith's first choice - Ron Turner eventually came back to the Bears in 2005 after having worked for the team in the 90s.</p>
<p>Hiring who you know isn't an unexpected thing in the NFL - it's what teams do, and it's why sometimes when a head coach leaves, some of "his guys" go with him. It's why after failing in Denver, Josh McDaniels returned to New England. The Bears may have been more prone to tradition and history than other organizations, but also consider this:</p>
<p>Put yourself in Marc Trestman's shoes. You're taking your first head coaching job in the NFL, and for better or worse you haven't been in the NFL in eight years. The one area where that would impact him would be in current NFL connections. Trestman might take recommendations, but really, while there are some risks here, Trestman isn't going to give people he knows a job just to give people he knows a job. He chose people that he's familiar with and won with at his stops in the league. That's not the worst thing in the world - he trusts these coaches, and that's fine.</p>
<p>But these connections are what allowed the Bears to fill out their entire coaching staff in three days. Part of Emery's interviewing process probably included thoughts on how his staffs would be filled out to facilitate this. With two guys that have such an attention to detail, it sure wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.</p>
<p>Emery and Marc Trestman had a plan they put together and so far have executed it as needed. And when Marinelli decides he wants to leave, they call up Mel Tucker and get him without missing a beat.</p>
<p>Are they moving too fast? Maybe, but as with Emery acquiring Brandon Marshall, picking <span>Shea McClellin</span> in the first round and trading up for <span>Alshon Jeffery</span>, they aggressively went after "their guys." All we can do is hope that "their guys" are the right guys.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/19/3895132/from-no-coach-to-a-full-staff-in-three-days-building-the-teamSteven Schweickert2013-01-19T16:21:22-06:002013-01-19T16:21:22-06:00Hoke and Phair will return to Bears, Byrd will not
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<figcaption>Brian Kersey</figcaption>
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<p>The Chicago Bears have announced three more assistant coaching moves today...</p> <p>As reported by <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/AdamHogeCBS/status/292738048930762752">CBS Sports Adam Hoge</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> will retain Jon Hoke as defensive backs coach and Mike Phair as defensive line coach.They have also announced that assistant DBs coach Gill Byrd will not return.</p>
<p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>OFFICIAL: Jon Hoke will return as <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Bears">#Bears</a> DB coach, Mike Phair will remain DL coach. Gill Byrd will not return.</p>&mdash; Adam Hoge (@AdamHogeCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamHogeCBS/status/292738048930762752" data-datetime="2013-01-19T20:59:24+00:00">January 19, 2013</a></blockquote><br><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Hoke, entering his 5th season in Chicago, was believed to be in the running for the defensive coordinators position before they hired Mel Tucker. The organization must feel very highly of Hoke, as they blocked him from interviewing with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> last year for their defensive coordinator position.</p>
<p>Phair will be entering his 3rd year in Chicago, and under his tutelage the defensive line had shown marked improvement. Before Phair took over the Bears defensive line had 25 sacks in 2010. In 2011, the D-Line collected 30 sacks and in 2012 they picked up 38.</p>
<p>Keeping a couple holdovers from the Lovie Smith regime gives me an inkling that head coach Marc Trestman may want to keep some of the Tampa 2 scheme in place. New DC Mel Tucker has adapted to his talent when ever he's coached, so it would not surprise me to see a familiar style of defense in 2013.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/19/3894814/jon-hoke-and-mike-phair-to-remain-on-chicago-bears-coaching-staff-gilLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2013-01-18T20:08:02-06:002013-01-18T20:08:02-06:00Trestman adds Bischoff and Sinclair to Staff
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<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
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<p>Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman brings a pair of familiar faces to his staff that he worked with previously in Montreal.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/mikecwright/status/292427816966950912">hired another coach</a> from the Montreal <span style="font-size: small;">Alouettes today, </span><span style="font-size: small;"></span>when they added Andy Bischoff to Marc Trestman's coaching staff. He joins the staff as the tight ends coach.</p>
<p>Bischoff started with Trestman when the <span style="font-size: small;">Alouettes hired him in 2008. He started out as their running backs & offensive quality control coach, until being promoted to his latest position that carried the impressive title of Special Teams Coordinator, Running Backs Coach and Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach. </span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-size: small;">How'd you like to have that on your business card?</span></i></p>
<p>Before you become concerned that Bischoff only has experience with the bigger field and 12 men per side CFL, he did coach 15 years in American football. From 1993 - 2007 he coached at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Minnesota. While there his coaching responsibilities went from offensive line coach, to run game coordinator, to co-offensive coordinator, to Assistant Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator.</p>
<p>For the full Andy Bischoff bio you can <a target="_blank" href="http://en.montrealalouettes.com/page/andy-bischoff_100305">click here</a>.</p>
<p>Coming along with Bischoff is Michael Sinclair as an assistant defensive line coach. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and played eleven seasons in the NFL, and <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BradBiggs/status/292427891893993472">worked with Trestman in Montreal</a>. Prior to joining the Bears, he was the <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BradBiggs/status/292427948911370241">assistant head coach</a> and defensive line coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/18/3887754/chicago-bears-coaching-update-marc-trestman-adds-andy-bischoff-asLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2013-01-18T17:36:54-06:002013-01-18T17:36:54-06:00Bears Hire Mel Tucker as Defensive Coordinator
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<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann</figcaption>
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<p>The Bears have hired former Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mel Tucker to man their defense.</p> <p>Per numerous sources, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> have signed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jaguars.com/team/coaches/Mel-Tucker/92821092-257a-4138-bdcf-aa28e61f09a7">Mel Tucker</a> to be<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/danpompei/status/292409842725961730"> their defensive coordinator</a>.</p>
<p>This might come as a little bit of a stunner, since Jon Hoke as defensive coordinator would have carried with it the likelihood of continuing the Lovie Smith Tampa 2 defense that was so effective for the Bears, and especially since last year's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>, for whom Tucker acted as the DC, were 30th in defense.</p>
<p>Tucker was a former head coaching candidate for the Jaguars for the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/1/17/3888306/mel-tucker-jaguars-defensive-coordinator">last two years</a>, prior to the Jaguars signing Mike Mularkey for the 2012 season and this off season for Gus Bradley. He was in his fourth season as defensive coordinator, and was also pursued by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin Badgers</a> in December for<a target="_blank" href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2012/12/7/3740980/mel-tucker-wisconsin-head-coach"> their head coaching job</a>. Before all that, he was the defensive coordinator for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> and defensive backs coach from 2005-2007 before taking over the coordinator position in 2008. He was replaced by Rob Ryan after Romeo Crennel was fired.</p>
<p>And in 2011, Jack Del Rio put Tucker in charge of playcalling and the defense became ranked fourth in the NFL. This year, part of that 30th ranking could largely be due to having to be on the field for 40 minutes a game - maybe with a more consistent offense under Trestman, the Tucker defense can be fully unleashed.</p>
<p>Tucker has experience running both a 3-4 and 4-3 setup, so he's another guy that could have the ability to adapt to his personnel. He also has head coaching experience, taking over as interim head coach for five games during the 2011 season.</p>
<p>What do you guys think of Mel Tucker's hiring?</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/1/18/3892264/mel-tucker-hired-as-bears-defensive-coordinatorSteven Schweickert