After not offering Ron Rivera a contract extension to stay with the Bears, they moved quickly to select Bob Babich as Rivera’s replacement. Babich was promoted from within. He’s served the last 4 years as the linebackers coach for the Bears. He also has a history with Lovie Smith. He was the linebackers coach with the Rams when Smith was the defensive coordinator, and he also coached with Smith at the University of Tulsa.

It makes sense that Lovie would bring in one of “his guys”. I don’t know much about Babich, other than he’s coached the strongest part of the Bears defense for the past 4 years. Of course, having Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs makes that job easier, but it could also be said that he helped those players blossom into the perennial Pro Bowlers that they are now. I think good things are in store for the Bears defense under Babich. I want them to retain their scoring mentality. I think they will, that’s at the heart of Lovie Smith’s defensive philosophy.

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