Jan. 12--When a Bill Belichick defense looks as shaky in a home playoff game as the Patriots did Saturday giving up 428 yards to the Ravens, credit the opponent's game plan. The Patriots are nobody's patsy, especially in January.
The Patriots survived 35-31 to advance after quarterback Tom Brady's offense overcame two 14-point deficits, not because their defense ever adequately solved the well-devised scheme designed by Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
In Chicago, provincial thinkers immediately interpreted the Ravens' bad day as good news for the Bears: Now they can interview Kubiak, a former head coach of the Texans whose experience offers a nice balance to new general manager Ryan Pace's youthful exuberance. The idea of Kubiak makes sense for a Bears organization that cannot afford to risk a head coach learning on the job while a rookie GM adjusts to his.
So it came as little surprise Sunday when ESPN reported the Bears plan to make a push for Kubiak, who refused to talk to teams with head-coaching openings until the Ravens were eliminated. Admire Kubiak's stand. His insistence spoke to the integrity of a coach respected around the league for his levelheadedness. The Bears oddly never showed interest in Rex Ryan, the new Bills head coach, nor have they yet pursued Mike Shanahan, perhaps because of his history of wanting control of the roster. But Kubiak would arrive with less baggage and a reputation for being a tough, disciplined coach players respect in no small part because of his eight-year playing career with the Broncos as John Elway's backup.
Kubiak's run-first, zone-blocking philosophy would give a running back with vision like Matt Forte a chance to thrive in a Bears regime built around defense and the running game. His play-action passing attack that includes a moving pocket and misdirection would suit Jay Cutler, or whomever plays quarterback. People in town don't want to hear it, but Kubiak's ability to use Cutler in a familiar system, at least for one season, would allow Pace to focus on rebuilding a defense that requires more than fixing one position.
Consider that Kubiak also could bring longtime friend Rick Dennison, a fellow Ravens offensive assistant, and the other Shanahan -- Mike's son, Kyle -- as offensive coordinator, and you see why that combination might appeal to Pace.
The defensive coordinator under Kubiak, or any new Bears head coach, matters less than the players he will have to deploy. Sure, a 3-4 scheme sounds like an exciting change until you remember the Bears don't have four NFL linebackers. The 2014 Bears defense suffered from a talent deficit more than anything.
As much as everybody loves the popular notion of a "defensive-minded" headed coach re-establishing the Bears' identity, the truth is Pace will affect that resurgence more with smart drafts and shrewd free-agent signings than the next head coach will. The next head coach must remove doubt that leads to dysfunction and restore a clear sense of direction, something Kubiak did well during eight seasons in charge of the Texans.
At some point, the Bears have to stop basing their success on unknowns. People familiar with Kubiak say the Bears would know what they're getting in terms of a leader who projects an air of authority. At some point, especially with a 37-year-old GM making his first hire, the Bears must realize knowing what to expect from their head coach outweighs the quest for excitement.
"I'm looking for the best head coach that has the traits we're looking for: confidence, charisma, discipline, leadership," Pace said.
Kubiak fulfills three of those four requirements. What he potentially lacks in charisma, according to former Kubiak colleagues and ex-players, he compensates in character. Concerns over Kubiak stem from an emotionless perception and, as one league source put it, a reluctance to suffer fools. Kubiak's 61-64 Texans record won't inspire immediate optimism, but he wouldn't be the first former head coach to win consistently after hovering near .500 in his first NFL go-around. Neither the Giants nor the Broncos regretted recycling Tom Coughlin or John Fox, respectively.
Monday marks two weeks since the Bears fired Trestman. Known candidates include Broncos 36-year-old offensive coordinator Adam Gase, as green as Pace, and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, whose name escaped Bears Chairman George McCaskey on Friday (bad sign). Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, both on Pace's list, possess cleaner slates and perhaps bigger presences than Kubiak. But how will either career assistant handle the hot seat? Doug Marrone, the former Bills coach, enjoys a tighter connection to Pace from their Saints days but buffaloed the Bills in his exit. Other candidates could emerge as Pace continues his search for the next Sean Payton.
Not sure any of them will suit the Bears as well as Kubiak, the steadiest candidate in an unspectacular field.
dhaugh@tribpub.com
Twitter @DavidHaugh
