Bears Name Marinelli New DC

After much searching, the Chicago Bears have finally done what many expected and named defensive line coach Rod Marinelli as the new defensive coordinator. He was already the assistant head coach, a position he will retain. The Bears website quoted Marinelli for saying, “I’m very excited. The defensive staff has all worked together, so it’s just a chance to keep going and build on the subtleties of our system. We’ve all been in it together and I think the familiarity will help.”

Coach Lovie Smith seemed more than pleased with the selection and said, “Rod is among the best defensive coaches in the NFL and will be an excellent defensive coordinator for us. We considered outside possibilities, but I didn’t feel our defense would benefit the same way it will with Rod in the coordinator role.”

Smith also revealed that he had tried to land Marinelli as a defensive coordinator in years prior, but various obligations kept Marinelli from the job. Marinelli was the head coach of the Detroit Lions during the 2008 season before coming to Chicago last season. Other recent hires include Shane Day as quarterbacks coach and Eric Washington as defensive line coach. See the Bears live with Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on February 8, 2010 - Post a comment

Ditka Talks Martz

One man who is historically hard to impress is legendary former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka. Whenever he does give his stamp of approval, it is worth taking notice. He has done exactly that with the Bears’ new offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Ditka appeared on ESPN 1000’s Mike & Mike show to talk about the recent addition of Martz.

Ditka said, “I don’t think there’s probably too many better offensive minds than Mike. I think the main thing you have to understand, when you bring an architect in, do you have the pieces to build the building? It’s fine to have the design and the mind and say, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do.’ And that’s essential, you have to have that, but then you have to have the receivers to go with the quarterback. And I have to have a left tackle to protect the backside of this guy. You have to have all the pieces in place, but yeah, I love what they’re doing. I’d like to see them become an offense that can go out and score points.”

Martz will bring a whole new method to the Bears offense. See the changes by getting Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on February 5, 2010 - Post a comment

Bears Interview Day for QB Coach

Now that the Chicago Bears have locked in their offensive coordinator Mike Martz, they are starting to fill in the gaps with the other offensive coaching position. They already added a new tight ends coach with Mike DeBord, and the AP is reporting that they also have a candidate for quarterbacks coach. The Bears have reportedly interviewed Shane Day. Day is currently the San Francisco 49ers quality control coach.  News sources are reporting that Day traveled to the Bears headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois on Wednesday to talk about the position.

Day is familiar with the two new hires for the Bears. He and Mike Martz worked together at the 49ers in 2008. He has also worked with Mike DeBord at the University of Michigan. Day has held his position with the 49ers since 2007. He was a quality control coach at Michigan before coming to the 49ers, working with the quarterbacks as well as recruiting and other duties. The Bears have interviewed others for the position, but Day looks like a likely candidate as they seem to be in decision making mode right now. No matter who they choose, make sure to get your Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on February 4, 2010 - Post a comment

Bears Hire DeBord

Now that the Chicago Bears have locked in Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, they are starting to lock in the rest of their offensive coaches. The latest new hire is Mike DeBord, who was an assistant with the Seattle Seahawks. He will be the Bears new tight ends coach. He also joins new offensive line coach Mike Tice as part of the new offensive coaching lineup. He started with the Seahawks in 2008 as an assistant offensive line coach before moving to tight ends coach in 2009.

Coming to the Bears is somewhat of a coming home for DeBord, as his roots are in the Midwest. He is originally from Muncie, Indiana and started his coaching career with Franklin College in Indiana. Prior to coming to the Seahawks, he worked with top college teams like Northwestern and Michigan. In all, he had 26 years of coaching experience in the college ranks.

The Bears are still adding coaches and have yet to fill the defensive coordinator position. These new coaches could be just the change the Bears need for the 2010 season.  Be there to cheer them on by getting Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on February 3, 2010 - Post a comment

Bears Hire Martz as OC

The Chicago Bears search for an offensive coordinator is finally over, as the Bears have hired Mike Martz for the position. Martz is a former head coach for the St. Louis Rams, leading the team to a Super Bowl with his signature offense. Martz is known for developing the passing game, but he made sure to point out that he would be focused on the run game as well.

According to the Bears website, Martz said, “You do whatever it takes to win. Some weeks you’re going to run it pretty good. The next week you’re going to throw pretty good. But it’s about winning. Whatever you can do the best, that’s what you do.”

He continued to explain his methods and said, “Everything starts in the offensive line. Everything. They allow you to keep your defense off the field, to protect the quarterback, to do what you want to do on offense. When that’s established-which we’ll get done-then I think more than anything else, you get off the bus and really you are getting in a position to hit them right in the mouth.”

He is one of many new coaches for the Bears, and fans can see them all by getting Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on February 2, 2010 - Post a comment

Knox Shows Talent at Pro Bowl

Last night, the Pro Bowl took place in Miami last night, and the Chicago Bears had one representative there to represent the team. He was the kickoff return specialist for the NFC team at the Sun Life Stadium. The NFC team lost to the AFC 41-34, but it was a great matchup nonetheless. Knox did well in the outing, returning kickoffs 30, 26, 26 and 21 yards.

Knox seemed to be pretty excited about the game. The Chicago Sun Times reported that Knox said, “‘I had a lot of goals set before the season, but honestly, this was not one that I set. Not for my rookie year. But I’m glad it worked out for me.”

Knox also made quite the impression on other coaches around the league, as Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Ray Sherman said, “He’s smooth. He’s very smooth, and he’s smart, and he listens. But he is so explosive. Wow.”

Knox showed his talent during this season, but everyone is expecting even more from Knox during the 2010 season. With a Pro Bowl year, he could just exceed expectations for his career. Make sure you are there to see him by getting Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on February 1, 2010 - Post a comment

Kreutz Has Surgery

Over the last several years, the one consistent star on the offensive line was center Olin Kreutz. ESPN recently reported that Kreutz went under the knife recently to remove a bone spur pushing on his Achilles tendon. Kreutz’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, gave details about the procedure and said, “This occurred after years and years of pounding on Olin’s body, but of course he wasn’t going to say anything. There was absolutely no cutting of the Achilles. Imagine walking around with a rock in your shoe that kept rubbing against your heel, it’s very painful. The bone spur was actually rubbing against the Achilles, which is what caused the irritation.”

Kreutz could take between 2.5 and 3 months before he can start going full-speed in drills again, which would make him ready by the time training really begins to heat up. Kreutz has been healthy during his long career with the Bears, as he has played in every game since 2002. The Bears will need him healthy for next season, as they will be looking to make up for a lackluster 2009 season. Make sure you are there to support them by reserving Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 29, 2010 - Post a comment

Marinelli for Defensive Coordinator?

Could Rod Marinelli be the Chicago Bears next defensive coordinator? Marinelli is currently the Bears’ defensive line and assistant head coach, but he has a reputation as a top defensive mind. Marinelli was formerly the head coach for the Detroit Lions during their abysmal winless season in 2008. He joined the Bears last season, and instantly won the respect of the entire Bears defense (which doesn’t seem to be an easy crew to win over). The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Marinelli won’t rule out the possibility of him taking over as defensive coordinator.

The Tribune asked Marinelli at the recent Senior Bowl what he would say if asked to be the Bears’ defensive coordinator, and he said, “Whatever Lovie needs, I’ll do. If the field needs to be mowed, I’ll bring my hand-mower out. … There’s no job too small.”

That’s a pretty good attitude for a man who easily earns the respect of those around him. With the pool of possibilities getting smaller and smaller for defensive coordinator, Marinelli may become the frontrunner soon. He may be the best option out there anyway. See how the Bears fare next season by getting Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 28, 2010 - Post a comment

Bears Looking at Vikings’ Rogers for OC

The Chicago Bears are still on the hunt for both offensive and defensive coordinators, and news sources are reporting that there is a new prospect for the offensive coordinator position. The Star Tribune revealed that the Bears are looking at the Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin Roger for the offensive coordinator position. The Bears reportedly asked for permission to talk to Roger following the Vikings’ loss over the weekend to the New Orleans Saints in overtime. He has been with the Vikings since 2006, the same year that head coach Brad Childress began his career in Minnesota.

The position with the Vikings was his first in the NFL, but he is hardly an inexperienced coach. He has held offensive coordinator positions at Notre Dame and Syracuse and also coached with Virginia Tech prior to coming to Minnesota. He isn’t the only one in the family coaching in the NFL, as his son, Kevin Jr., works with the Indianapolis Colts as a pro scout. The Bears have been looking at many names for the offensive coordinator position, and the season wrapping up may indicate they are getting closer to making a decision. See them live by getting Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 27, 2010 - Post a comment

Knox Added to Pro Bowl Roster

When the initial Pro Bowl roster was announced, outside linebacker Lance Briggs was the only Chicago Bear on the roster. He had to pull out because of an injury, but the Bears haven’t been left without representation. It was recently announced that Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox will be on the team as a kick return specialist, replacing an injured Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings.

According to the Bears website, Knox was quite surprised about the selection and said, “When I heard the news, I was speechless. I was real excited to hear news like that. This was a long-term goal I had set early on in my career, but I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly.”

Knox has made quite a name for himself last season, which is pretty impressive for someone who was a fifth-round draft pick in last year’s draft. During the 2009 season, he had 32 kickoff returns for 927 yards. Part of that total was a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, which ranked second in franchise history. The Pro Bowl will take place in Miami on January 31, the week before the Super Bowl. See Knox live with Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 26, 2010 - Post a comment


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