Defensive Coordinator Mel Tucker has been the scapegoat for the Chicago Bears failings much of this season. Bears nation has directed a lot of their vitriol towards him (as well as Marc Trestman and Jay Cutler, who the Bears are also having serious buyer’s remorse with) for an abysmal season that’s been a complete team effort. Or lack there of. If you have to single out somebody, Tucker is about as appropriate as it gets, given that the Bears have surrendered at least 30 points in six of their thirteen contests this season.
They gave up 50+ in back-to-back weeks, the first NFL team to do that since the Rochester Jeffersons of the leather helmet era. And it appears Mel Tucker will soon pay for that with his job.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport
On Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker:
“I’m told by Bears sources [that] barring a significant improvement Mel Tucker, the defensive coordinator, is expected to be replaced at the end of this year. What the Bears will say publicly is that they have not had these discussions; I’m told they have had these discussions and they have already decided a change will be made at defensive coordinator.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2