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Report: Bears contact USC's Jeremy Bates

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By Vaughn McClure

The Bears have reached out to USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates about succeeding Ron Turner in that role for them, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Bates was the quarterbacks coach in Denver when Jay Cutler played for the Broncos, and the two have a strong relationship. The Tribune reported earlier that Bates made sense as a candidate.

Schefter also tweeted that the Bears could approach Jedd Fisch at the University of Minnesota, who also worked with Cutler.

16 Comments

black and blue on January 6, 2010 9:28 PM

This seems like a good choice, but anyone would be better than Martz, except maybe Turner, but he's gone now.

LOL! Formally, as a young man, he should be called Master Bates. Get it?

only as pretty as you feel.

bates for sure.. he ran the offense for denver and cutler and him have a very good relationship.. why not succumb and make jay happy hes the one running the offense.. hello FRANCHISE QB!! plus hes young and we could use some young blood not lovie buddies like martz or old fat retreads like weiss..

Vince on January 6, 2010 10:41 AM
Might as well make Cutler the coordinator, head coach, GM and President if we're going to continue to bow to the baby, I mean savior.

---------------------------------------------------

Yeah, why listen to the only guy on offense who touches the ball on every single play? We should just trust in the Bears management to bring in the right guy, since their track record is so good!

Come on, dude. Get over this whole Cutler thing. He's here for the next several seasons, so you might as well get used to it. And keep in mind, he was calling for Devin A. to get more playing time all season long because they worked well together in the pre-season and in practice. Should the Bears have not "bowed to the baby" on that one? Because again, the Bears obviously know what they're doing and don't need a "baby" QB telling them what to do, right?

What they really need is a real good O-Line coach. Take care of the offensive line and the rest of the offensive will be awesome.

USC Trojan on January 6, 2010 12:00 PM

Yeah go ahead and get Bates at least next season we will have some offense with a sophomore QB

emBEARassed on January 6, 2010 11:51 AM

ROFL!!!!

The team is a total disaster and these morons (Bear's organization) are thinking of bringing an OC that has no NFL experience. On the other hand, does it really matter who the OC is? The coaching staff (after 6 years) have proven to be inept and the owners are pathetic.

Screw the Bears and the NFL for that mattter. If you want to root for a footbal team, stick with the teams that you're kids (or somebody you personally know) play on. Not these money hungry whores we call the NFL.

Vince you are a tool. Who do you want as QB????? Rex, Chad Hutchinson, Cade McNown, Kordell and the crappy list goes on and on.

Cutler is awesome and with a coordinator that actually knows how to run an offense will do wonders for him. Also, he is only 26 and has all the skills to be great for a long time.

GO BEARS!!!

Bates being the first contact just shows us that this is Jay Cutler's team like it or not! I am no Mike Martz fan and the fact that Marinelli fired him in Detroit and Singletary fired him in San Fran because he is a pass first guy is enough reason not to bring him here!

Charlie Weis is my first choice but the bottom line is, this is Lovie's and Angelo's last shot and the last thing the team needs is to risk its franchise QB clashing with his offensive coordinator!

The new coordinators are already in place: Perry Fewell- Defensive Coordinator and Jeremy Bates- Offensive Coordinator!

What most of you fail to realize, is that Bates who was the one working with cutler on a day to day basis in denver and also called the plays, has shown that he can run a successful NFL offense. Who cares what he did at USC, this is the NFL. He HAS CLEARLY SHOWN what he can do offensively in the NFL. And its WORLDS better than anything Ron Turner has ever done in his life.

Might as well make Cutler the coordinator, head coach, GM and President if we're going to continue to bow to the baby, I mean savior.

Joe Felicelli on January 6, 2010 10:40 AM

One thing you can expect if we hire Bates is a moving pocket. He will get Cutler on the move a lot more than what we saw this year. He also favors a zone blocking scheme, which fits our offensive line personnel.

I thought Angelo would bring in one of his guys (I figured Jeff Jagodzinski), but this is just as good. I am ecstatic that Weis and Martz are not being brought in yet. Both of them run offenses that require 2 things:

1) an offensive line that can protect on 5 and 7 step drops
and
2) receivers who can run precise routes and separate from defenders on deep routes (ins, outs, posts, comebacks).

Right now, we are weak in both areas. So depending on what happens in free agency and in the draft, we may or may not be in a position to implement their offenses. Bates is not only a safe choice, but he also has the most upside as a developing young coach. Martz and Weis are both very arrogant based on past success, and are also very stubborn and resistant to change. Bates is looking to make a name for himself, and Cutler is his path to do so. Good fit for both sides.

DA-NI, I think you have a great idea. Not showing up is clearly the best way to show them. Now how many tickets can you sell me and where are they located?

NFL football insiders ALL agree, Coach Bates is the BEST fir for the Bears.. He would be a great hire.


So, expect the Bears to screw it up.

A pairing with Jim Zorn as QB Coach, and the Bears could have a legitimate offense for the first time since heaven knows.…

There's never no real moves and they take us for granted and treat us who pay the bills like suckers. Lets just not show up to the games anymore.

Bates is a solid candidate and to the poster commenting about what has USC done this past season, the offense was not the problem though they had a very young QB who had trouble with reads. That will change with experience, and the problem with USC(which was still a solid team) was that their defense was uncharacteristically porous especially in big games. I am sure Carroll will fix that.

This is just what the Bears need, a young coach that can light a fire under the players. Makes it even better that he is familiar with Cutler and can utilize him the right way.

I have no clue why so many are calling for Martz? He blew in San Fran and was just as horrendous in Detroilet.

If we want to see change, why bring in another douche that is buddies with Lovie? Look how good that has worked with Marinelli, Babitch, even Angelo who was in Tampa.

New blood will be a pleasant change at Halas Hall.

Please make this happen.

GO BEARS!

If they're going to build the "new" offense around Young Jay, then they might as well build the offensive coordinator and staff around Young Jay as well. Think of it as a different kind of "continuity." Also, some fresh, young brains might help push some of the stale air out of Halas Hall, which so far has proven to be about as lively as the third basement at The Field Museum.

What, exactly, has this guy done at USC?? I mean it seems like they have not been doing too well as of late, right? (admittedly, I do not watch college football but I know I have not heard a lot about USC's football program this year so I presume that they did not do well, at least compared to previous seasons)
How 'bout going after an established PRO Co-coordinator.. like Martz..
I think you do not go cheap here, that is what has cost the Bears in the previous years.. giving tons of money to the wrong people.
I think I have had enough of college coaches running an offense (remember the Crowton 'fun and gun'?)

money money money on January 6, 2010 9:09 AM

Bring in the young Bates...He would be very CHEAP.

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