One Chicago Bears Assistant Coach Who Also Needs To Go

The Chicago Bears didn't go into 2023 with plans to change their coaching staff. However, unexpected events forced their hand. It started with defensive coordinator Alan Williams mysteriously resigning in September, citing family and health problems. Sources around that time indicated a deeper issue involving Human Resources and a cyber security team. Williams resigned to avoid public embarrassment. Now, at the start of November, running backs coach David Walker was fired from the team due to repeated breaches of conduct.

If keeping the standard is indeed the goal for head coach Matt Eberflus, then it's time he considered a change on his staff for on-the-field failures. The guilty party in question is defensive line coach Travis Smith. Chicago hired him last year after a stint as assistant defensive line coach in Las Vegas. The decision wasn't hard. Smith had connections to Rod Marinelli, a great defensive line coach in his own right and a mentor to Eberflus. It seemed like a logical move. Time has proven that incorrect.

Smith's tenure is characterized by easily the worst pass rush performance of a Bears defensive front in franchise history. In the past 25 games under Smith's direction, they have 15 sacks total as a unit. Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker combined for 16.5 sacks last year. They're on track to combine for 7.5 this season. When talent and age aren't concerns, the only thing left is coaching.

The Chicago Bears have to do some serious self-evaluating.

It's clear what they're doing right now from a coaching perspective isn't working. For this defensive scheme to work, they need the defensive line to control the line of scrimmage. While the unit isn't star-studded by any means, it should not be this bad. The arrival of Montez Sweat should theoretically help. However, history says Smith won't be able to get the most out of him. There is no clarity as to why. Maybe he's a lousy coach. Maybe he wasn't ready for this opportunity. He is still pretty young. Whatever the reason, Eberflus can't let blind loyalty cloud his judgment.

If he's going to get this defense pointed in the right direction, he needs that defensive line playing to its potential. Smith hasn't proven up to the task. The Chicago Bears have to find somebody who is. It might be wise to go with more experience this time around. Much depends on who is or will become available. This team has a lot of natural talent on the roster. Getting the most out of it should be their top priority.