I have mentioned new Bears quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates in previous blogs as a coach of interest for the Bears. Bates was an up-and-comer under Jon Gruden for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 as an offensive quality-control coach. I liked him immediately.
Jay Cutler is correct in his assessment of Bates, when he said hes a grinder who loves football and is fiercely competitive. Do not let Jeremys age fool you. The tail will not wag the dog in Chicago. Bates is opinionated, knows what he wants offensively, and how he wants it executed. He is pure football.
If Im a Bears fan, I wouldnt get caught up in titles too much concerning why Bates wasnt hired as passing-game coordinator. That is all it is, a title. Bates and Cutler already have established lines of communication that will be rekindled from past success. Their history together will bode well. Bates knows Jays strengths and weaknesses and how to coach Jay to get the most out of him.
It is not like these two have to start from square one where youre trying to be open in a new relationship like Cutler was with Martz. They know where each other stands offensively and will look to hit the ground running by working to improve, rather than gloat on the past. Bates is demanding, gruff and doesnt mince words. There will be no gray areas that go uncoached.
Mike Tice and Bates do not have a background together other than being in the coaching fraternity. Bates will prove to be a valuable asset to Tice, because he is a coach who personally knows how to utilize Cutlers skills and will look to improve them. He will be a tremendous, valuable resource for Tice to tap and coincide with what he already knows about Jay.
Again, Bates and Cutler have history together. They can discuss plays, how they attacked defenses together, and much of that feedback will be implemented in current gameplans for the Bears passing attack. Cutler is far enough along to offer his opinion of what he likes and dislikes.
In terms of being one-and-done in Seattle, it relates more to Matt Hasselback than any failures by Bates. Hasellback had been in the west-coast Offense his entire career under Mike Holmgren. There were certain principles in the offense, I believe, Matt felt very strongly about over years of experience executing the system. Bates arrived in Seattle with his own set of beliefs in the system under Gruden and Mike Shanahans tutelage as well.
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Yes, it is the same offense but areas of emphasis and how it is executed normally morph under whoever is calling the plays. Hence, the statement philosophical differences when Bates was relieved of his offensive play-calling duties, despite making the playoffs while in Seattle.
Lets all hope this doesnt end with Cutler screaming expletives captured on tape concerning the Bears new team effort offensively, rather than a one man greatest show on turf philosophy.
This is a good move for the Bears who could reap valuable rewards. Now, the Bears have to acquire the most important part for any so called passing game: playmakers who can catch!