Marinelli to fill void at D-coorindator

The Bears did not need to look far to find their new defensive coordinator.
Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli was promoted Friday to guide the Bears’ defense, which finished 17th in the league in 2009. The announcement came exactly a month after Bears coach Lovie Smith said he would relinquish defensive play-calling duties heading into next season.
“Rod is among the best defensive coaches in the NFL and will be an excellent defensive coordinator for us,” Smith told the Bears’ Web site. “We considered outside possibilities, but I didn’t feel our defense would benefit the same way it will with Rod in the coordinator role.”
The Bears also hired former San Francisco 49ers assistant Shane Day as quarterbacks coach and promoted Eric Washington to defensive line coach. The team named Andrew Hayes-Stoker as offensive quality control coach and Mikal Smith, Lovie’s son, as defensive quality control coach.

– Tom Musick