Moderator: chitownsports4ever
Jason La Canfora @JasonLaCanfora
Bears are hiring Mel Tucker to be their new defensive coordinator. Being finalized
TB#1 wrote:Its like a 21st Century Scarlet Letter.
Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman is wasting no time in rounding out his new staff, hiring Mel Tucker Friday as defensive coordinator.
Friend_Of_Haley wrote:Just hope Hoke stays on board.
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The Bears' coaching staff on defense now consists of Tucker, secondary coaches Jon Hoke and Gil Byrd, and defensive line coach Mike Phair. The team still must add a linebackers coach to take over for the recently fired Bob Babich.
kozelkid wrote:I think this speaks more to the idea that this team will be moving slowly to a hybrid defense given Tucker's experience in the 3-4 and 4-3.
Under Tucker, the Browns operated out of a 3-4 defense..
When Tucker joined the Jaguars in 2009, the team experimented with playing both the 4-3 and the 3-4 before finally settling on the 4-3 full time.
In Jacksonville, Tucker helped the Jaguars defense improve from 28th in the league in 2010 to sixth in 2011.
During his first year with the Jaguars (2009), Tucker presided over a unit on which 21 different players made starts, including four rookies.
The Bears had scheduled an interview with Redskins defensive backs coach, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, and was in route to Chicago as of 6 p.m. Friday. But an hour later, Chicago announced they had finalized a deal with Tucker.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the Bears would interview Morris, who last season signed a one-year deal with Washington, for another position, or if they would cancel their interview with the coach once he landed.
BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:Mel Tucker team's Defensive rankings as Coordinator:
2008 Cleveland Browns: #16 in points allowed, #26 in yards allowed (3-4 Defense)
2009 Jacksonville Jaguars: #24 in points allowed, #23 in yards allowed (Hybrid 3-4/4-3 Defense)
2010 Jacksonville Jaguars: #27 in points allowed, #28 in yards allowed (4-3 Defense)
2011 Jacksonville Jaguars: #11 in points allowed, #6 in yards allowed (4-3 Defense)
2012 Jacksonville Jaguars: #29 in points allowed, #30 in yards allowed (4-3 Defense)
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/
I'm not really impressed with that resume. Can somebody please talk me off the ledge?
Magilla_Gorilla wrote:Quick - name someone on that Jacksonville defense.
.They had no talent and an atrocious offense. I wouldn't worry too much about rankings - everything I've read said that this guy is well respected by his fellow coaches, and gets the most out of his players - no matter how little talent they may have.
I'm optimistic.
Jake0890 wrote:Never heard of the guy... eh.
I liked the idea of Raheem Morris.
BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:Jake0890 wrote:Never heard of the guy... eh.
I liked the idea of Raheem Morris.
I would have been more comfortable with Morris, as well.
He's from the Tony Dungy, Monte Kiffin, Lovie Smith, & Rod Marinelli 'Tampa 2' Defense tree.
Jake0890 wrote:BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:Jake0890 wrote:Never heard of the guy... eh.
I liked the idea of Raheem Morris.
I would have been more comfortable with Morris, as well.
He's from the Tony Dungy, Monte Kiffin, Lovie Smith, & Rod Marinelli 'Tampa 2' Defense tree.
I do like the idea of sticking with the Tampa 2, as long as we're not letting end of half drives by playing so conservatively.
. 1h Matt Bowen @MattBowen41
#Bears & Tucker: watched JAX tape today. A lot of 2-deep, some single high+ zone/zero pressure. Will check out more tomorrow.
Matt Bowen @MattBowen41
@PriscoCBS Yep. Didn't see much. Brought some pressure in red zone, 3rd and short.
Brad Biggs@BradBiggs
#Bears DB coach Jon Hoke will return to Marc Trestman's staff this season. 2 starting Pro Bowl corners this season.
Brad Biggs@BradBiggs
Good move by #Bears to keep Hoke. He is a strong teacher. Would imagine he gets DC opportunity at some point in near future.
Strange things happened during my visit to Jacksonville almost three months ago.
I saw a lizard in a tree. I saw everyday people wearing Blaine Gabbert jerseys. I saw Bears third-string running back Armando Allen rush for a 46-yard touchdown. ...
Zero doubt exists in my mind that the Bears’ offense will be better next season.
As for the defense, I am far less certain.
While Trestman and Kromer and others confer with Jay Cutler and decide how best to use Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall, Tucker will be on an island with the Bears’ defense.
It’s an island filled with talent, absolutely, but an island nonetheless.
Tucker will inherit a defense better than any other he has coached. Behind the guidance of Smith and Marinelli, the Bears led the NFL with 44 takeaways in 2012 to go along with a franchise-record nine defensive touchdowns, 41 sacks and 54 tackles for losses.
Yet the stars of the group are aging.
Brian Urlacher will turn 35 years old in May and might not re-sign with the Bears as an unrestricted free agent. Julius Peppers celebrated his 33rd birthday on Friday. Lance Briggs will turn 33 next season. Charles Tillman will turn 32 next month.
Henry Melton is a young star on the defensive line, but he also will be a free agent. Will Melton want to join one of his favorite coaches (Marinelli) in his hometown (Dallas)?
It’s completely possible that Tucker will be a success with the Bears. He coached the Jaguars’ defense to a No. 6 ranking in 2011 before they slid to No. 30 in 2012, and he has proved to be adaptable with both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes in his background.
But Tucker, like Trestman, will have to prove himself to his new players.
Let’s wait and see whether he can tackle the job.
Sean Jensen@seankjensen
#Bears safeties coach Gil Byrd is not returning to the team, while Jon Hoke remains defensive backs coach and Mike Phair remains DL coach
fleet wrote:Eh
From what I understand his 4/3 is not the tampa2 whereas the tampa2 is the base 4/3 ALA Lovie and Marinelli. Tucker had a traditional 4/3 base that plays with 2 gap tackles. Melton does not sound like a given resign.
