Lovie Smith to take more 'hands-on approach' with defensive play-calling for Bears

By Vaughn McClure | Tribune staff reporter
2:25 PM CST, January 13, 2009

With all coaching changes now in place, Bears coach Lovie Smith is eager to put an up-and-down 2008 season behind him and his own stamp on the defense in the future.

Smith, addressing the media via conference call Tuesday, said defensive coordinator Bob Babich would remain in his role but also would serve as the linebackers coach, replacing Lloyd Lee. Babich spent three years as the linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator.

Smith said he plans to help Babich with coordinating the defense.

``I'm excited about taking a more hands-on approach,'' Smith said of getting the defense back to where it used to be.

``After my evaluation, these are the changes I thought were necessary,'' Smith said.

``Getting rid of Bob Babich was not a part of that. Bob's duties have changed, like all of our guys duties have changed. But no one is in the same position that they were, defensively, last year. So there weren't any scapegoats. The guys I thought didn't need to be here anymore, we needed to go a different direction from, we did that. The ones that stayed, I think these guys all bring something to the table.''

Smith said the staff would tweak the Cover-2 scheme but not change it.

The Bears also agreed to terms on Tuesday with defensive backs coach Jon Hoke, who was fired by the Houston Texans. Hoke played cornerback for the Bears in 1980.

The team added fired Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli to the staff Saturday as assistant head coach/defensive line, meaning all of the coaching shakeup took place on the defensive side of the ball.

Yes, offensive coordinator Ron Turner is safe for now.

Marinelli replaces Brick Haley, who moved on to the same position at LSU, while Hoke stepped in for Steven Wilks. Marinelli (13) and Hoke (seven) bring 20 years of NFL experience to the Bears.

I smell a bit....

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

What a load of crap. So he hasn't been involved previously?