Chicago Bears coverage needs a so-called “FOX attitude.” We report, you decide…if the team will finish in last place again, and just how far out of first place they’ll end up.
What effect will the (John) Fox attitude have on the Chicago Bears? It depends on how much magic both he and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio can work with a rapidly aging, non-cohesive defensive unit.
If John Fox is the best thing the Bears have going for them in 2015, Vic Fangio isn’t too far behind.
“Vic Fangio, I’m sure he had many offers,” said Phil Simms, part of the NFL on CBS’ lead announce team.
“He’s such a respected teacher and he’s one of those guys that can do either, he can be extremely aggressive, blitz, and do all these creative things or he can be extremely sound and solid and do very little, like he did in San Francisco. Why? Because he had all that talent around him.”
Given the disparity in talent between San Francisco and Chicago, we can pretty much infer that Fangio will take the former approach described by Simms and not the latter. In 2015 Fangio will have to use schemes that will mask all the personnel deficiencies the Bears have on defense. It’s amazing how quickly that unit aged and had to be turned over; lots of new faces in a short span of time.
Tony Gonzalez, analyst on the NFL Today and K.C. Chiefs legend, played against Vic Fangio in some really big contests. He’s had to game prep against the Fangio schemes.
“Scheme is so important,” Gonzalez said.
“It doesn’t matter about the talent if someone is always in the right place. It seems like someone is always right there to cover you up, I always remember going against guys with high enthusiasm on that side of the ball, and knowing what to do at all moments of the game.”
John Fox took the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in just his second season at the helm. Denver was 4-10 when hired Foxy. He won the AFC in his third season.
While Marc Trestman had very little, if any, leadership skills, Fox is regarded to be a so-called “players coach.” He can lead better than Trestman because more people believe in him.
“His track record, he’s a likable guy,” is how Pro Football Hall of Famer and CBS Color Analyst Dan Fouts described Fox.
“You don’t find many people who don’t like John Fox, so I think that goes a long way.”
It will have to go a very long way because the Bears have a lot of obstacles to overcome. It’s not just the talent deficiencies. Chicago has to adjust from a base 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme this season.
NFL Media Day Preview Series
–Tony Gonzalez very optimistic on Raiders prospects, loves uniform and colors
–John Fox is the best thing the Chicago Bears have going for them
-Does Chicago Deserve a three-peat as NFL Draft host?
-Erin Coscarelli Oakland Raiders Season Preview
-Erin Coscarelli Chicago Bears Season Preview
-Tony Gonzalez sees Khalil Mack becoming the NFL’s best Linebacker
-London Fletcher on the art of NFL punditry
-Bears fans expecting Jay Cutler to change are insane
–Bart Scott sizes up the NFC North race
-Can Vic Fangio be the Chicago Bears savior?
-Curtis Conway analyzes Bears off-season
–Jim Nantz sees Raiders returning to relevance soon
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
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