| 26 December 2009
Well this much is apparent regarding the 2009 Chicago Bears season, the defensive problems the last two years are not to be blamed on Bob Babich. Nor should we as fans blame the scheme, the blame falls squarely on the failure of the front four to get any pass rush on the QB.
Rod Marinelli is still a great defensive line coach, but even he cannot miraculously transplant the heart problems that exist with Adewale Ogunleye or get consistent play out of a defensive front made up of primarily three-technique DTs.
Anthony Adams wasn't given a contract extension in San Francisco because he couldn't play the NT position there with the switch to the 3-4 defense. Why he is being asked to be a NT here in Chicago with some of the same responsibilities of a 3-4 NT in the Bears' 4-3 front is more than a little peculiar.
Marcus Harrison had his best success as the back up three-technique to Tommie Harris last year and is now struggling as a NT the same as Adams. The one real true NT that the Bears had they had to release because of constant nagging injury problems. Dusty Dvoracek was the only true NT type of player on the Bears' roster and when either he or the now departed Ian Scott was on the field, the Bears run defense held up well.
Not by coincidence Lance Briggs mentioned Scott's departure from Chicago after the 2006 Super Bowl season as a possible reason why there has been a change in the production the Bears have gotten out of their front four. 
While Tommie Harris will not likely ever be dominating force he once was, he is still the best DT on the roster. Yes this is not saying much, but teams by default have essentially focused on Harris as they normally would a good NT. Harris has been the constant target of double teams and combo blocks this season. While he has struggled in most one on one situations, he still draws more double teams than any other player on the line. This in and of itself wears on Harris and causes any chance for him to be in position to make plays or to have energy to make plays to go out the window.
This is the unfortunate situation the Bears face on the defensive line, no real speed off the edge in the pass rush, linebackers that are completely incapable of being effective blitzers/pass rushers and no true NT. In turn the Cover-2 scheme looks weak, pathetic and ineffective therefore reflecting poorly on the coaching staff.
The staff is to blame as well, blame for failing to get the most out of Adewale Ogunleye's talent, relying too much on Mark Anderson to be a full time player at DE and not recognizing just how much he is just a one dimensional situational rusher.
The big problem is not in the scheme but in the personnel that is on the defensive line. That is partially to be blamed on Lovie Smith, but also on Jerry Angelo for failing to put a stronger premium on top notch pass rushing talent.
There are a few great positions of value in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. QBs, LTs, and pass rushers tend to be the most highly sought after prospects coming out of college. The high premium on these players has made the failure of recognizing talent even more problematic for Jerry Angelo.
The Bears were lucky to get what they could from Mark Anderson a fifth round prospect, they likely won't get a lot from Henry Melton and they completely missed when they drafted Dan Bazuin in the second round.
These failures lead to the main question, does Lovie Smith have the ultimate say in final personnel decisions or are those final decisions Angelo's decisions and his alone? The way Angelo spoke in the off-season of the 2008-2009 season was to say that the personnel was in place and that Lovie Smith and the staff needed to coach better.
The strongest the Cover-2 defense looked was in the 2006 NFC Title game when the Bears completed obliterated a very good New Orleans Saints defense. The pass rush harassed Saints QB Drew Brees all day and the Bears physically dominated the Saints' offense. They did so without Tommie Harris who was already out with his hamstring injury, proving that with the right personnel in the scheme the defense can succeed even without a dominating Harris.
The base of great personnel according to Angelo was there, it was up to Lovie Smith to get that personnel to perform at a high level. It was the lack of coaching, or up to the coaches to get success on the field for 2009. But based on the personnel we have seen on the field and the personnel that has been moved out and had major success elsewhere it's clear that the Bears have had major personnel problems, far more than coaching problems.
I suppose the next question would be should the Bears gamble on keeping Lovie Smith and finding a way to get rid of Angelo who somehow has people convinced that he has everything right and it's all on the coaching staff.
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