Bears 2009 Playbook: Improve D's Numbers While Cutler Throws Bullets

The Tampa 2 defense will be in full swing for the Chicago Bears this year as head coach Lovie Smith reunites with his old friend Rod Marinelli. The two will try to bring the team back to where they were three years ago when they finished the season 13-3 instead of 9-7.

When it was announced earlier this year that Marinelli would be joining the Bears as assistant head coach and defensive line coach, defensive tackle Tommie Harris told the Chicago Tribune, “I always wanted to be coached by him, so now I have the chance…He’s like the best defensive line coach in the business. I know that from what Warren Sapp said and from what I’ve watched on film.”

Maybe it will be just what Harris needs to step up after finishing last season with just five sacks—a number he was able to reach in just four games during the 2006 season.

The Bears are far from the defensive team they were in 2006 when they placed fifth overall. Last year they fell to 30th in the league against the pass allowing 241.2 yards per game. The problem? Third downs. If Marinelli wants to help bring this team back, he should focus on getting these guys to put more pressure on the quarterbacks.

Brian Urlacher, like his teammates Charles Tillman, Corey Graham, and Nathan Vasher (to name a few) ended last season without one sack. Zero. That’s pathetic.

Marinelli needs to work this D hard to prove he still deserves to be a coach in the league after a dismal 0-16 season as head coach with the Lions last year, but not so hard that they’re all sitting on the bench with ice packs not able to play.

Let’s not forget that Urlacher is now 31-years old and has been plagued with neck and back injuries. But he has the ability to be a good leader if he puts his mind to it.

Veteran safety Mike Brown won’t be with the team this year, but rookies like Jarron Gilbert will still have Urlacher and Lance Briggs (who lead the team with 110 tackles last year) to look up to. Marinelli and DC Bob Babich will have a lot to work with to improve the D, and Smith will be right next to them reinforcing the Tampa 2.

While the defense has seen changes in coaching staff this offseason, the offense has been completely revamped with a Pro Bowl quarterback. There will be no more fighting in Chicago over whether Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton is a worse quarterback.

This season, Ron Turner will have talent to play with as Jay Cutler cannot only move but he can throw the ball.

Turner said last week, “I’ll take a player like this any time. I’ve been around some really good quarterbacks and the last couple we’ve had I think were really good players, but I’ve never been around an arm like this.”

When the Bears took the field in Lake Forest last week coaches were shocked, wide receivers were in pain, and hope was restored with Cutler’s arm.

It may not exactly be Smith’s style, but look for Cutler to be throwing Devin Hester 40- to 60-yard passes. An arm like this you can’t restrain. It’ll be up to receivers like Hester and Rashied Davis to adapt to the speed and power of Cutler’s throws.

Expect tight end Greg Olsen to also be used as an offensive weapon this season. He makes some rookie mistakes but the Bears can rely on him for big plays. Cutler is much more mobile, moves the ball much better, and can be counted on to avoid getting sacked unlike the Bears previous quarterbacks.

He connected on 62.3 percent of his passes last season with the Broncos, with 25 touchdowns and a record 4,526 yards. The last time Turner saw a record for passing yards set for the Bears was with Erik Kramer in 1995 and that was only for 3,838 yards.

Also plan on seeing Earl Bennett play more this year. The second-year receiver played with Cutler at Vanderbilt.

As a freshman in 2005, he was named first-team all-SEC after scoring 9 touchdowns with 79 receptions for 876-yards.

He struggled in his rookie year with the Bears last season, but already Cutler is bringing him back, connecting with him on the quick slant throughout spring practices.

And if those guys aren’t open, let’s not forget about Matt Forte. Teams will be putting pressure on the rookie who set franchise records (flashback Sept. 7, 2008: 23 carries for 123 yards against the Colts setting a franchise record for most yards gained in a running back debut), but if Cutler can find him the Bears will be scoring a lot of touchdowns this way.

Cutler said while the West Coast system is a little different, the way they line up and get guys places is the same.

Finally Chicago can breathe again as the Bears have an offensive leader they can all look up to.