Every thing the Chicago Bears have done this offseason has been comfortable. Promoting Mike Tice to offensive coordinator was a comfortable move. Hiring Phil Emery, who was previously an area scout in Chicago, was also comfortable. The Bears continued that theme on Tuesday by hiring former Seattle offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates as the new quarterbacks coach.
No, Jeremy Bates hasn't spent any previous time in Chicago and he doesn't necessarily have a wealth of experience working with anyone on the current staff, but personnel is a different story. Bates worked extensively with Bears franchise quarterback Jay Cutler as an offensive assistant and later a quarterbacks coach with the Denver Broncos.
As a matter of fact, Cutler lobbied for Jeremy Bates to be hired as the Bears offensive coordinator before the 2010 season to no avail. But now Jay Cutler has gotten his wish, and once again the Bears have made a move that makes them feel all warm-and-fuzzy inside.
Perhaps this is the beginning of a push to surround Jay Cutler with personnel to make the talented gunslinger effective, and if that's the case then it'd be a refreshing change to what the Bears have done in the three years they've had him. However, that doesn't seem the most likely scenario.
The Bears have gone out of their way to change as little as possible this season--directly contradicting a Jan. 3 press conference that claimed the Bears were looking to make sweeping changes.
The head coach is the same, the new general manager once worked under the old one, the new offensive coordinator was promoted from within the ranks, and now your quarterbacks coach was hired to placate your quarterback. Are you getting the picture?
The Chicago Bears have been consistently mediocre, and consistently complacent. They're driving around in circles and picking up the same hitchhikers over and over.
Jeremy Bates may be a solid hire, but it still further signifies the Bears' desire to keep everything conveniently similar. Eventually it will cost Ted Phillips and Lovie Smith their jobs. God-willing it will be the tipping point that provokes the McCaskeys to sell the franchise, however unlikely that may be.
Maybe the Bears find a way to squeeze another five mediocre years out of this bewildering organization--complete with a divisional title or two. Will they win a REAL title during that timespan? The one that gets your name etched into one of those big silver trophies?
Probably not, but at least the Bears will be comfortable. The fans, on the other hand, will simply acquiesce because, gosh darnit, they just love their Bears. But make no mistake about it, there's nothing comfortable about 8-8.
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