Why Travis Smith Is Under More Pressure Than Any Bears Coach
While the players are the focus on the field when the games are played, the coaching staff is under its own version of pressure each season. When a unit doesn’t perform well, position coaches and coordinators come under fire for not getting more out of their guys. It is why you can often see head coaches unload assistants from time to time. Matt Nagy proved that multiple times during his run with the Chicago Bears. This will be the year when Matt Eberflus has to start closely monitoring his staff to see if there are any weak links. Nobody will be under more scrutiny than Travis Smith.
Most of Eberflus’ assistant hires made sense last year. Dave Borgonzi, James Rowe, Andrew Janocko, Chris Morgan, David Walker, and Tyke Tolbert all brought previous experience coaching their respective positions. Smith was an exception. Chicago would mark the first time he’d ever run a group himself. Until that point, he had been an assistant defensive line coach with the Raiders. So he was completely untried. It was an inauspicious start when Smith’s unit managed only ten sacks last season and was a core part of the Bears’ ugly 31st-ranked run defense.
So all eyes will be on him to get things pointed in the right direction this year. That is especially true after Chicago’s massive investments across the entire front.
Travis Smith had valid excuses last year. Not anymore.
The Bears basically gutted their roster in 2022. Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn were traded. Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols were allowed to depart in free agency. Smith was working with little in the way of front-line talent. That has changed over the past few months. Several new faces have entered the mix, headlined by DeMarcus Walker, Andrew Billings, Rasheem Green, 2nd round pick Gervon Dexter, and 3rd round pick Zacch Pickens. While the Bears may not have that superstar presence, this group is younger, deeper, and much more talented than last season.
Nobody is saying it has to light the world on fire. However, if the Chicago Bears still rank near the bottom in sacks and run defense after this season, it might be time to look at the coaching as a problem. Travis Smith had a great mentor in Rod Marinelli during his time in Las Vegas. Even so, having great teachers doesn’t always translate to becoming a great coach as well. Smith’s trial period is over. Results should be expected this season.