The Chicago Bears knew they needed to shake things up after a disastrous 3-13 season in 2016. Head coach John Fox knew he was fortunate to keep his job, and some assistants would probably have to be sacrificed as a result. Four assistant coaches were either allowed to leave for other jobs or fired outright.
Running backs coach Stan Drayton took a job down at Texas. Outside linebackers coach Clint Hurtt took the same position with the New York Jets. Meanwhile offensive line coach Dave Magazu and safeties coach Sam Garnes were shone the door. That left four positions Fox would have to fill, and in limited time.
The problem is the situation surrounding his status. Almost everybody knows Fox is coaching for his job in 2017. What they call a "lame duck" situation. Few would want to join a staff that would likely be fired at the end of the season if the team loses again. So it would take careful maneuvering if Fox was going to fill those positions with quality men.
The Bears have used their time carefully in searching for new coaches to fill the open positions. With the Senior Bowl just over a week away though, the importance of getting the staff ready is increasing. Chicago will be coaching the North Team down in Mobile. It seems head coach John Fox found his first replacement.
https://twitter.com/alexmarvez/status/821122126581211137
Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune quickly followed up with who exactly the Bears are getting.
"Washburn, 39, was the Dolphins' assistant offensive line coach last season under head coach Adam Gase, the former Bears offensive coordinator. Before that, Washburn spent the previous three seasons as the Lions' offensive line coach. He was Detroit's assistant offensive line coach from 2009-2012. Washburn played guard at Arkansas, finishing his college career in 1999. He became a graduate assistant for two seasons and was on staff when current Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains arrived there as a player/coach. Washburn entered the NFL as a football operations assistant with the Panthers in 2002, the first season current Bears coach John Fox served as head coach there."It goes a bit beyond just connections though. Washburn is somewhat of a second generation coach. His father, Jim Washburn, is one of the most highly-respected defensive line coaches in the league. Jeremiah is somewhat unique though in that he actually spent his early years as a scout. From 2003 to 2008 he was with the Baltimore Ravens, learning under GM Ozzie Newsome. When he returned to coaching, he joined the Detroit Lions in 2010 as an assistant offensive line coach. Three years later he was promoted. A job he would hold until 2015. Over that span the Lions reached the top six in total offensive yards three times. Matthew Stafford was sacked the third-fewest times (115) of any quarterback while Washburn ran the offensive line. He did this without a single Pro Bowl-caliber player on the depth chart. To top it off? He made them respectable in rushing. In 2013, Reggie Bush ran for over 1, 000 yards. A year later Joique Bell went over 800. It can't be a coincidence that the Lions' leading rusher in 2015 had just over 500 yards considering Washburn was fired in late October. Something many people who followed the situation had nothing to do with his skill. https://twitter.com/davebirkett/status/821191953425592322 https://twitter.com/caplannfl/status/821144130885746689 Then there is the growing buzz that Washburn had a big hand in the turnaround of fortune for the Miami Dolphins this seasons. Through the first five games nothing went right for them on offense. They averaged 72 yards rushing per game and allowed a ridiculous 17 sacks on quarterback Ryan Tannehill. At 1-4 they were going nowhere and in danger of collapsing. So they decided to change things up, and it started with a massive purge of the depth chart.
"The Dolphins (1-4) endured a major roster overhaul in which guard-tackle Dallas Thomas, a 2013 third-round pick, guard-tackle Billy Turner, a 2014 third-round pick, and guard-center Jamil Douglas, a 2015 fourth-round pick, were all cut on Tuesday."The second adjustment was shifting to more of a run-oriented game plan, allowing their younger line to set the tone for games by going forward. Spearheaded by breakout start Jay Ajayi, Miami averaged 139 rushing yards over the final 11 games. They went 8-3 in that stretch and made the playoffs. Word is Washburn was one of the guys who spearheaded those adjustments. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Jay-Ajayis-Amazing-204-Rushing-Yards-Steelers-vs.-Dolphins-NFL-Week-6-Player-Highlights.mp4"][/video] This is a young coach who was wrongly run out of town by Detroit two years ago. Is it any coincidence he was interested in a chance to get back at them with their division rival? Given what he did for Bush and then Ajayi, if nothing else Washburn's arrival will be welcome news for Jordan Howard. Even better news if they end up rolling with a rookie quarterback.
