Latest coaching hire shows Bears new regime gets it

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The moves started the day after the final game of the regular season at Halas Hall with the Chicago Bears. Within the first week General Manager Jerry Angelo and Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz were out and change was in the air.

It started with the hiring of Phil Emery as the new GM, who is known by his peers as the "hardest worker in the room." Then the promotion of Mike Tice to offensive coordinator gave a sign the run game would be a focal point for a team with a back the likes of Matt Forte toting the rock.

Now, with Tuesday's announcement of Jeremy Bates as the new quarterbacks coach, the same man who held the same job in Jay Cutler's final two years in Denver, the direction of the team is very clear. That direction, which lacked a little with Angelo at the helm, now revolves clearly around Cutler and rightfully so. With an aging defense, the offense is clearly what needs to carry the team and has the most room for growth.

In an article today in the Chicago Tribune, Steve Rosenbloom rips the Bears for the lack of of No. 1 receiver. Well, if we can tell anything in the first month or at least weeks of the Emery era at Halas Hall, that will likely be priority No. 2 this offseason. The first, of course will be figuring out which way to go with Matt Forte. He will most certainly be a Bear next season, but the question will be whether or not he will be franchise tagged.

I like the direction things are going. I know it's in the early stages, but making Cutler happy has to be paramount and most tied to the team's success. If you doubt that, remind me again how the last month and a half went in the regular season. He has his guy on board that will keep him comfortable and grounded. In the two years with Martz calling the shots for the offense, it seemed at the start of both seasons the Mad Scientist wanted to do it his way before he had to be wrangled in and shown which way to go with things. I don't see that happening with Tice and Bates leading Cutler and the offense.

What moves will the Bears make this offseason in the first year of the Emery Era? Time will tell, but know that it will be much more thought out and much better for the team than what we saw in the Angelo Era.