The Chicago Bears coaching staff appears to have completed their overhaul for 2020. No fewer than four assistant were dismissed back in January. All vacancies have since been filled with the likes of Juan Castillo (offensive line), Clancy Barone (tight ends), and Bill Lazor (offensive coordinator). John DeFilippo was even added as an extra at quarterbacks coach after Dave Ragone was promoted to passing game coordinator. The defensive staff went largely untouched. Understandably so. However, if the team is smart they’ll find a way to make room for James Bettcher.
Don’t know the name? That’s fine. He is somewhat of a newcomer to the NFL spotlight. A college assistant coach up until 2012, he was lured to the Indianapolis Colts that year to become their outside linebackers coach. Chuck Pagano was the head coach. Bettcher soon followed Bruce Arians to Arizona in 2013 to assume that same job. After two seasons, he was promoted to defensive coordinator. In the three years he ran that job, the Cardinals finished 5th, 2nd, and 6th in total defense.
After Arians retired, Bettcher left for New York where he became defensive coordinator for the Giants in 2018 under their new head coach Pat Shurmur. The defense immediately improved from 31st the previous year to 23rd. Unfortunately, personnel issues led to problems in 2019 and the coaching staff was fired. Now Bettcher is a free agent. One who could greatly benefit the Bears.
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James Bettcher would be a big help to Bears pass rush
The obvious question to ask here is if the Bears were to bring him in, what exactly would he do? Every main spot on the staff is already filled. This means they would have to do what they did for DeFilippo. They’d have to create another position to promote somebody else so they can have him fill the vacant slot. If one were to make a recommendation, the best idea would be promoting outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino to a pass game coordinator position. Teams like Atlanta do this sort of thing. Then Bettcher could take over the title of outside linebackers coach.
One thing about the coach is his pass rushes tend to produce really well. Since 2013, he’s had at least one player reach 10 sacks or more in a season four times. His unit in 2015 produced 48 total. There is no question he can be a big help to this staff in reinvigorating a Bears rush that lost a lot of steam last season. Even better, the team would then have a viable heir to the defensive coordinator job in case Pagano either retires or gets another head coaching gig in the future.
