10 Things I Would Do If I Was The Chicago Bears Head Coach

Ever had that moment as a kid, or in junior high, or high school, when you had a dream about what you wanted to do as a career? I certainly did when I played football in high school—and I talked a lot about how I would become a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears.

Since then, things never went well enough for that to happen (a lack of physical talent and desire to play this game is a big reason why). However, once I was switched over to defense, I was able to learn the game a little bit more completely, as I understood both offense and defense on a fundamental level.

That's why this article is about 10 things I would do if I was their head coach (gotta dream a little, right?).

I decided to break these off into sections. Feel free to make note of the areas I pay more attention to.

Offense

1. Bench Kyle Orton until he's completely healthy.

Look, I really like what Kyle Orton has done this season and I understand that he is the quarterback the Bears (and fans) want on the field...That's why I think he needs to take a seat until his ankle is fully ready.

Besides, Rex Grossman (here comes the groans) is still capable of playing. Sure, he didn't play very well against Detroit or Tennessee, but neither did Orton until the first meeting at Ford field (which was the fifth game of the season).

Quarterbacks, probably more-so than other positions, need a couple of games to dust off the rust from their shoes before they can run without problems. Game-time speed is a very hard thing to replicate in practice...and the only way you can see game-time speed is during a game (brilliant, isn't it?).

I'd rather deal with some tough games from Rex than Kyle coming in early and potentially getting hurt worse than what he is now.

2. Get Kevin Jones more carries.

I understand that Matt Forte has become a huge bright spot for the Bears' offense this year by leading the team in receptions, rushing yards, and is second in the NFL among rookie running backs in yards rushing (777).

But Kevin Jones is an excellent athlete who has the quick burst that the Bears have  been looking for in a change-of-pace-back.

Sure, Jones' 3.2 rushing average is probably not very attractive, but just think of what the Bears offense could be if both Forte and Jones start to excel together...in the same game. Or the same season. They could be something like what Carolina's DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart or the New York Giants' with Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward.

Defense

3. Bench Nathan Vasher.

This is a really hard move because Nathan Vasher makes a lot of big plays on the defense. Or at least he did in 2005 (46 total tackles and eight interceptions with one touchdown). In the past two seasons, he has had four inteceptions—one interception this season—and has had problems staying healthy.

In games this season, he's either not tackling someone or getting beat by a slant play. He got beat by former Bear Justin Gage a couple of weeks ago against Tennessee. That's not acceptable, at all. Corey Graham has fared much better this season, with 54 total tackles (even though he only has one interception) and, thus, should start in Vasher's place.

4. Bench Tommie Harris.

This isn't hard for me at all. Harris is the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL and has been a force for the Bears the past couple of years, but he doesn't really look like he's playing that well this season (like much of the Bears defense).

What really doesn't help his case, though, is all of the trash he talks about how good he is when he only has 16 tackles, two sacks, and a fumble that was lost on the season. He needs to just shut up and play or Marcus Harrison needs to start in his place. Either way, it sounds like a good solution.

5. Start Hunter Hillenmeyer.

I have no idea what is up with Hunter, but he needs to be on the field. Unlike Urlacher and Briggs, I really think Hunter is a big part of holding this defense (the line-backing corps, anyways) together.

Last year, he had 78 total tackles, and while that's not anywhere near the team lead, Hillenmeyer was in on stopping a lot of plays because of his intelligence in playing his position.

I think Nick Roach is a decent linebacker, but did you see him get blasted by Green Bay this past Sunday? Hunter needs to be on the field and starting.

6. Activate Anthony Adams and get him in the rotation.

Remember before the 2007 season when everyone (mainly on ESPN) talked about how the defensive line was going to be one of the weak-spots after losing Darwin Walker, Ian Scott, and Tank Johnson?

Well, Adams was a really solid player on the defensive line with 26 total tackles and half a sack before being injured late in the year. He especially stepped up after Dusty Dvorack's week one season-ending injury...and he's only played in three games this season.

I would activate this guy and at least get him in the rotation to play and maybe start in place of Tommie Harris or Dusty Dvorack. It might be a good move to help out this struggling defensive line.

7. Take over Defensive Play-Calling.

This season has been a rough one for the defense that now ranks 19th in total defense, 30th in passing defense, and sixth against the run. One of the issues that keeps coming up is whether the cover-two defense is broken or not.

One thing that Larry Mayer (writer for Chicago Bears.com's section "Chalk Talk") brought up was that the Bears only use the cover-two defense a third of their defensive snaps. That means that they're either getting beat when in cover-three or they just can't match up in man two thirds of their snaps.

My idea is to scrap the cover-three entirely and either run a two-deep man or zone as my base plays. I would, however, try and throw different looks and formations at the offense and encourage defensive players to shift around and not allow the offense to get any idea of what might happen.

8. Send a distinct message to the defense...

The message to the defense is this:

"You guys are not playing well...at all. So, shut up and do your work so you can get better. Look at yourselves in the mirror and take care of whatever your job is and encourage your teammates to do the same.

"Trash talking will NOT be tolerated and anyone who does so (i.e. in interviews) will be subject to losing playing time and possibly their jobs. This play will have to change if this team is going to have a chance in winning this division."

Special Teams

9. Take Devin Hester off of punt return.

I know that Bears fans are probably wondering what is up with Devin Hester this year. I mean, he's a few touchdowns away from setting the all-time return touchdown record in NFL history...and probably being declared the best returner ever.

Hester is definitely falling on hard times, though, particularly on punt returns. After averaging over 10 yards a punt return in each of the past two seasons (12.8 in 2006 and 15.5 in 2007), Hester is only averaging 6.3 yards per punt return.

To make matters worse, Hester only has 16 punt return attempts this season after having over 40 attempts the last two seasons (47 in 2006 and 42 in 2007).

This is significant because it means that punters are not kicking to Hester and it also means that when they do give Hester an opportunity, the coverage is good enough to render Hester ineffective.

So...if opposing teams won't punt to Hester, no problem. Just take him off of punt returns and put someone else back there, like Nathan Vasher, Garrett Wolfe, Danieal Manning, or Earl Bennett (to name a few potential candidates). This leads me to my next and final point.

10. Keep Devin Hester on Kick Returns

This is a pretty tough season because many of Chicago fans want to see Hester break the all-time return touchdown record.

But, while Hester hasn't had a return touchdown this season, he is playing up to par at the wide receiver position. He is second among the Bears' receivers in receptions (26), receiving yards (318), yards per catch (12.2), and is tied for first in touchdown catches (2) with Marty Booker and Rashied Davis.

However, getting back to kick returns, there are two main reasons I feel he should stay on this unit. One is that statistically, his production has not dropped off dramatically since last year. His return average this year (21.8) is slightly better than last year's (21.7), meaning that his production has not dropped off that much.

The second reason, and most important, though, is the generally good field position that the offense gets with Hester returning kicks as opposed to punts. Think of it this way: Since punters can kick the ball out of bounds with no penalty, they can pin an offense deep in their own territory if it's executed well enough (Generally, inside their own 20-yard line).

However, with Hester only on kick returns, the other team will have to kick to Hester and risk a touchdown return (or a big return), kick the ball out of bounds to give the offense a short field (at their own 40-yard line for an illegal procedure penalty), or kick the ball into or beyond Chicago's end zone (which not all kickers have the leg-strength to do).

No matter what, those are better choices than leaving Hester on both punt and kick returns.

It's definitely nice to dream, isn't it. Maybe I could be like the man in this picture and coach the Bears someday. I'd definitely do things a little differently, though.

We'll just have to see what Lovie has in store for us this weekend. I hope it's good.