Thomas Brown announces coaching staff changes |
To say the past few weeks have been a whirlwind for Thomas Brown would be an understatement, and his adventure is just getting started.
Former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron brought in brown to work with Caleb Williams and the passing game after spending last season as the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator. After watching the Bears offense flounder for 10 or 11 weeks, it came time for a change. Matt Eberflus removed Waldron from his OC position and promoted Brown from Passing game Coordinator to the OC. In the three games since, the Bears offense has looked completely different, and Brown has gotten Caleb Williams to play not only more aggressively but more decisively, as he is starting to look like a No. 1 pick. Apparently, one promotion wasn't enough for Brown, as he was named Interim Head Coach on Friday following the firing of Eberflus. It was a long time coming when you look at Eberflus and some of the losses he has endured, but he decided not to use a timeout late in the game on Thursday and then doubled down on why he didn't, which ultimately cost him his job. With Brown now leading the Bears, he will have an opportunity to audition for the permanent head coach opening, as many expect this job to be one of the most coveted jobs in Football. Even if Brown isn't ready to be an NFL head coach, a strong finish to the season will undoubtedly earn him some consideration. Still, at the very worst, it should at least put him in the running to return to this team as the offensive coordinator next season, especially when you look at how the offense has played since he took over. For Brown to have the same success as a head coach as he has had as an offensive coordinator, it will come down to the supporting cast around him. Brown knows that, and to help him become successful, he has made two coaching changes to the staff that will hopefully lead to more positive results over the final month of the season.
The most significant change is on the offensive side, where Chris Beaty has been appointed as the team's new offensive coordinator. Like Brown, Beaty was a good friend of Waldron and was added to the Bears staff to work with the WRs after holding that same title with the Chargers. Over the past three weeks, Beaty has become far more involved in the offense and the overall offensive game plan as he has worked hand-in-hand with Brown. That alone made Browns' decision to promote Beaty easy, as his increased role over the last few weeks was all the proof anyone needed. Despite being named the new OC, Beaty won't be calling the plays; that will still be Brown's responsibility from here on out.
Moving to the defensive side of the coaching staff, you will notice that there weren't any lateral moves or promotions but rather an adjustment to an already filled role. Eric Washington benefits the most from the Eberflus firing on the coaching staff as he will officially step in to call the plays on defense going forward. After spending the past few seasons as the Buffalo Bills' defensive line coach, Eberflus hired him to become the Bears' defensive coordinator. As a defensive-minded head coach, Eberflus called the defensive plays, while Washington was more interested in just listening and giving his input occasionally. Those days are over for Washington as the final five weeks are an audition process for him to prove he is worth a defensive coordinator position. Being a defensive coordinator is one thing, but calling the plays is an entirely different animal, and that is something that Washington hasn't done at some point in his career. The same can be said about Beaty on the offensive end, but both days have ended as both guys are getting their opportunity. Brown has already proven that he knows how to motivate his players, and they appear ready to run through a wall for him. He will now trust his staff to put this team in a position to win some games down the stretch.New offensive coordinator:
Washington now calling plays on defense
