Chicago Bears’ Lovie Smith promotes offensive line coach Mike Tice - NFL News Update
A few days after the Chicago Bears announced a shuffle in the coaching end of the franchise by removing offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, the franchise has announced that they will be promoting offensive line coach, Mike Tice, to the role, on Friday, January
6, 2012.
Mike Martz was removed on Monday by head coach, Lovie Smith, after what both described as a mutual decision to part ways.
Bears’ President, Ted Phillips, confirmed the news in his press conference when he also announced the sacking of general manager, Jerry Angelo, and quarterbacks' coach, Shane Day.
Martz’s future was already under the microscope after he was linked throughout the year with head coaching roles with a number of college football teams.
The offensive coordinator and Lovie Smith, however, denied all the rumours, saying that Martz’s future was with the Bears.
Smith in a statement to the press announced the decision to promote Tice to the offensive coordinator role and praised his vision for the Bears' offense.
"I'm excited to have Mike move into our offensive coordinator role. He has been a valuable member of our staff over the past two years and has an excellent track record in the NFL. He shares the same vision I have for our offense moving forward. We want
to be a strong running team with a big-play pass attack. Mike will call plays for us and continue to have an active role with our offensive line", Smith said.
Tice himself was excited at getting the job and laid out his plans for the Bears' attacking strategy in an interview with the press.
His vision for the Bears is to develop a more traditional rushing based offense, mixed with powerful passing to get the best out of the current talent in the Bears' roster.
“There will be a toughness about us. We are going to be a powerful run team and we're going to be able to mix in explosive pass plays”. Smith added.
The Bears missed out on the playoff rounds this season after they imploded late in the regular season.
The franchise was 7-3 after week 11 of the National Football League (NFL) 2011 season, and looked likely to reach the postseason, but a thumb injury sidelined regular quarterback, Jay Cutler, and the offense was unable to cope without its talisman.
The Bears also had to contend with an injury to running back, Matt Forte, and went on to lose five games in a row, which certainly undermined their chances of making it to the playoffs.
Chicago however, snapped its losing streak in the final game of the season against Minnesota Vikings with a 17-13 victory, but it was too little too late for the win to have any impact on the Bears' season.
With Tice now as the offensive coordinator, Bears have ample time to practice the new tactics and strategies, as they look to make a comeback amongst the elite ranks of the NFL in the upcoming 2012 season.
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