Primary Problem If Chicago Bears Pursue Mike Shanahan
By Erik Lambert
Before the final game of the season is even over, the Chicago Bears are already being linked to multiple names as far as a new head coach. One that has stood out, at least in the early going is Mike Shanahan. The reasoning is obvious enough. He has wide-spread experience and credibility with three Super Bowl rings including two as a head coach in Denver.
He also has something no other coach does: proven success with Jay Cutler as his quarterback. The two were together for three years between 2006 and 2008. Under Shanahan’s guidance, Cutler reached the Pro Bowl in ’08, throwing for over 4,500 yards. Unfortunately a late-season collapse resulted in missing the playoffs and saw the coach get fired after 13 years at the helm. Cutler was eventually traded to Chicago where he has struggled for consistency ever since.
The idea of bringing in Shanahan to solve the problem makes sense, but it also comes with a few notable question marks.
- At age 62 does he still have the energy to handle the job, especially in Chicago?
- How much power does he wish to yield from a personnel standpoint?
- Can he fix the defense?
That last question will prove the most vital to Bears fans. After watching how terrible the unit has become the past two seasons, they are of the opinion that this team won’t be able to win unless the defense regains some level of respectability. It’s fair to point out that Shanahan’s track record on that side of the ball took some prestige hits during his last years in Denver and his four seasons in Washington. From 2007 to 2013, no defense under his watch placed in the top 10 and only once did they place in the top 15.
So it begs the question. If Mike Shanahan gets the job, who can he bring in to correct the defensive woes. Here are three names to watch.
Keith Millard
Coaches often look to former colleagues and assistants when seeking help on a new team. One name that could pop up for Shanahan is Keith Millard. The two were together for four years in Denver, during which time they experienced a good degree of defensive success. Millard is actually a former Pro Bowl player who won Defensive Player of the Year in 1989. With the Broncos, he became a defensive line coach and pass rush specialist during which time the team emerged as one of the best defenses in the league.
David Gibbs
Another assistant who was part of the defensive successes Shanahan enjoyed in Denver was David Gibbs. Though only 46-years old, he’s been coaching in football since 1991. Better still, history shows that teams improve whenever they hire him. Minnesota and Auburn each saw their defenses get a lot better with him in charge. He specializes in defensive backs, an area the Bears are weak at the moment.
Wade Phillips
If any name would get Shanahan a leg up in pursuit of the Chicago Bears coaching job, it would be the idea that he could bring in Wade Phillips as his defensive coordinator. Phillips is also a veteran coach, known for being popular with his players and is especially proficient on the defensive side of the ball. His units have ranked in the top 10 regularly. He and Shanahan worked together in Denver back in the 1990s when Phillips was head coach. Together they got the Broncos to the AFC championship in ’91.