NEWSLETTER
There is an obvious obsession over following what happens with the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator hire.
However, let it be known that there are three phases of the game. Offense is important, no doubt. But defense and special teams are important, too. And, perhaps, with that in mind, it is worth noting that new head coach Matt Eberflus is lining things up to bring some friends from Indianapolis to Chicago with him.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports Colts defensive assistants Dave Borgonzi and James Rowe are “on board” with joining Eberflus with the Bears. Both coaches come highly regarded. And considering how much Chicago loves building strong defenses, these seem like heady moves by Eberflus.
Borgonzi has been coaching Indy linebackers for the last four years. We discussed Borgonzi joining the Bears as a possibility on Thursday. New hires tend to take at least one coach with them to their new destination. And in some cases, two. For Eberflus, it makes sense to snag Borgonzi, who has been coaching Indianapolis linebackers, to work with Roquan Smith. We’ve seen the Darius Leonard glow-up from a second-round rookie out of South Carolina State into an All-Pro linebacker. To be perfectly clear, Smith is already playing at a high level. And it isn’t as if he needs coaching to lift him to another level. But it wouldn’t it be something if Smith found *ANOTHER* gear under Borgonzi’s tutelage?
Meanwhile, Rowe – who was coaching Colts cornerbacks – would be one-and-done in Indy should he officially skip town. And if the Bears are the beneficiary, then so be it. Despite having just one year in Indianapolis, Rowe has 15 seasons of experience (including four in the NFL). Three of those years came with the Washington Football Team. But Rowe has been a standout coaching defensive backs at Appalachian State, Valdosta State, Jacksonville University, and at the University of Florida. Well-traveled and productive piques my interest, as does this thread:
To all my friends that like the Bears, you all are going to LOVE James Rowe. His hiring last year was the most excited I've ever been for a positional coach. I wrote a deep dive story piece on his ability as a coach for Stampede Blue even: https://t.co/WepiVDn8Bi
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) January 28, 2022
I struggle to imagine Eberflus holding on to many coaches from the previous regime. And while I know it can be difficult to let go of the past, it will be refreshing to have some new eyes on whichever players return from last year’s roster.
