Report: Bears Prepared To Make 'Major Push' For Kubiak
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) The NFL coaching circle is cyclical in nature. Just as the doors close on the season for coordinators of teams that have been eliminated from the playoffs, doors open at organizations trying to correct the course.
The Bears started the 2015 offseason with vacancies at the two most important positions on the football side of the house -- general manager and head coach. This past Thursday, they filled the general manager role, hiring former Saints director of player personnel Ryan Pace.
The focus now shifts to filling the head coaching position.
During his introductory press conference, Pace was emphatic that the two most important relationships in the building are between the general manager and head coach and head coach and quarterback. Finding the right head coach who can bridge those two sides of the organization is crucial.
The Bears are prepared to make a "major push" for Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, per a report from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Kubiak has been involved in the NFL for 30 years, nine as a quarterback for the Denver Broncos and 21 as a coach. For eight seasons, Kubiak served as the head coach of the Texans, compiling a regular-season record of 61-64, two AFC South championships and a 2-2 playoff record.
Given his experience as a quarterback in the league, Kubiak has spent 12 seasons as either a quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator. His offensive philosophy comes from the nine years he spent working under Mike Shanahan, one in San Francisco and eight in Denver, where the pair won two Super Bowls.
At its core, the scheme is a zone-blocked rushing attack that has turned ordinary running backs into high-performers on the field. On top of that foundation, Kubiak has built a bootleg, play-action passing attack that moves the pocket for the quarterback and half-field reads.
Current Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was drafted into and brought up in the same scheme for three seasons in Denver.
The Bears have also requested permission to interview with Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Tuesday, per a report from ESPN's Josina Anderson.
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Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.