Chicago Bears: The Last Girl To the Coordinator Dance

The Bears future is unclear

The news that former Bears defensive back coach Perry Fewell will be the next defensive coordinator of New York Giants solidifies the fact the Bears seem to be lost in their search for coordinators on both sides of the ball.

GM Jerry Angelo called these decisions the most important of his career since he first hired Lovie Smith in 2004. Perry Fuel seemed to be the perfect fit being that he was a sought after coach who Lovie was comfortable with bringing back to Chicago.

You can't blame Fewell for not wanting to come into situation in which if the team didn't make the playoffs then he'd likely be out of job again in a year. New York likely outbid Chicago as I can't see the McCaskey's sinking too much money into a coach who might only be there for a year.

Chicago's defensive talent also doesn't stack out to the potential that New York has so by all means Fewell probably made the right decision. But where does that leave the Bears? Lost.

The Bears did however hire former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice as the offensive line coach for the 2010 season. The hire left some people scratching there heads as it might of been premature to hire an assistant coach before you hire a coordinator, but one cannot underestimate the importance of an offensive line coach.

The last few games of the season were a tell-tale sign of how important the big guys up front were to the Bears success. Jay Cutler is a different quarterback when properly protected. Look at the success Brett Farve has had this season behind the offensive line he has in Minnesota. It also appears that center Olin Kreutz will be back next year as Tice met with the former pro bowler as a part of his interviewing process.

Despite the addition of Tice the Bears are still without an offensive coordinator and there are little clues in what direction the organization will go with the coaching vacancy. The position will most likely go to a promising NFL position coach willing to take the risks that go along with joining a coaching staff on the rocks.

Some names that have been mentioned as candidates for the job include Colts wide receivers coach Clyde Christensen and San Diego assistant head coach Rob Chudzinski. Whomever Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith hire it will no doubt be a pivotal move for the Bears organization.
Who should the Bears hire? Any ideas? Can Lovie save his job in 2010? Share your thoughts below.

-Sean Heffernan