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I am a multimedia nut, journalism, photography, videography, radio broadcasting and production. I’ve done it all, but I love to write and have a lot to say. I live in the Chicagoland area now and have always had an extreme love and passion for the Chicago Bears
Tice Perfect Hire For Bears
Written by Brett Solesky   
Saturday, 16 January 2010 00:13
The Chicago Bears made the first hire of the 2009-2010 off-season today by hiring former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice.  Tice was the assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars before signing on to become the offensive line coach for the Bears. 

Some analysts thought that Tice was being interviewed as a possible offensive coordinator candidate but in the end the Bears decided to hire Tice to coach the offensive line.  Tice has previous experience as an offensive line coach, it was the position he coached before taking over the head job in Minnesota. 

Mike TiceTice was the offensive line coach for the Vikings and then named interim coach after head coach Dennis Green was let go during the 2001 season. 

Tice coached a number of Pro Bowl offensive linemen during his tenure with the Vikings, including Todd Steussie who was a first round pick in 1994 before making the Pro Bowl in two consecutive seasons at left tackle under Tice's guidance.  Steussie was a Pro Bowler in his first season playing under Tice in 1997 and again in 1998. 

The following year in 1998 Vikings center Jeff Christy made his first Pro Bowl also under Tice's guidance.  He then went on to two more Pro Bowl in 1999 and again in 2000.  In 2001 Vikings center Matt Birk went on to have a Pro Bowl season and then duplicated the same feat again in 2002 also under Tice's tutelage. 

In total during his tenure as the offensive line coach with the Vikings Tice coached a total of five Pro Bowl players, Steussie, Birk, Christy and hall of fame offensive guard Randall McDaniel as well as the late Korey Stringer. 

The Vikings were known for the great offensive play under Tice, with that high number of Pro Bowl players and consistent play from veteran David Dixon.  To say that Tice was a good offensive is more than adequate given his history of success in coaching up players. 

Tice is the right coach at the right time for the Chicago Bears on the offensive line.  The Bears will be in a transitional phase along the offensive line this season and they'll need someone to come in and help develop the talent on hand as well as to scout future talent the Bears made need to add to their offensive line. 

He is the guy that would be needed a long resume of success along the offensive line and in addition Tice could take on the role as running game coordinator.  His philosophy fits in well with what the Bears will be trying to establish in the run game with Matt Forte.  The best way to get production from Matt Forte is to get a good solid offensive line in front of him and allow him to rip off big chunks of yards behind that offensive line. 

The Bears have that potential in some of the players that are currently on roster.  As mentioned prior to the start of the 2009 season the Bears had to of the best offensive guards in the league who won their battles at the point off attack.  As a result Matt Forte's yards per carry average at the point of attack was one of the highest in the league in 2008. 

This is the type of production the Bears need to get from Forte in 2010.  They don't need a high level of production just a solid level of consistent production, a level of production they didn't quite have in 2009.  The hope is with a better offensive line the Bears can get that consistent level of production from Forte, but also give Jay Cutler ample production int he pocket. 

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