Completing the circle of "Lovie's guys," Bears defensive line coach Rod Marinelli was promoted to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator on Friday. The move was among many staff decisions made by Smith and GM Jerry Angelo. Shane Day, quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers, was hired to become the new quarterbacks coach and Eric Washington was promoted to defensive line coach. Seattle's Mike DeBord was signed on Tuesday, assuming the tight end coaching vacancy.
Let's just get this right out of the way: I don't like Marinelli as my defensive coordinator, but he's not going to be. This is still Lovie Smith's defense and that will never change as long as he is the head coach. Marinelli will barely call plays since he's never been a coordinator before in his lengthy football career. Is the promotion ridiculous? Yes. Significant? No.
After Perry Fewell chose to become the coordinator of the New York Giants, the Bears obviously had no recourse except promoting from within. No legitimately established coordinator would come here and merely call Lovie Smith's defense. Now all the hire does is confirm Lovie's stubbornness and insistence on hiring "his guys." Now that his job is tied to this season's performance, he's going to the men he trusts most.
There's not a lot of history on Shane Day, but he worked in San Fran for three years, one of which was under Martz. He also worked with DeBord at Michigan in 2005-06. I hope he ends up being more useful to Cutler than the cardboard cut-out that was Pep Hamilton. Regardless, Martz will be the coach primarily communicating with my franchise QB, as it should be.
The Super Bowl hasn't even been played and I'm already frustrated with my defense. I don't think that's a good sign. I'll have more Bears talk before free agency hits, where I'll explain who the Bears should be targeting this offseason.
Keywords: Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, Jerry Angelo, Joe Anello, Lovie Smith, Mike DeBord, Mike Martz, NFL, Perry Fewell, Rod Marinelli, Shane Day
