The Chicago Bears have loaded up on talent during the offseason, and now it's up to new offensive coordinator Mike Tice to turn integrate Michael Bush, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery into an offense with high expectations in 2012. Training camp starts soon, and Tice believes he knows how to build an elite group out of the players at his disposal. He has carried a reputation as a run-first coach for quite while, but with Jay Cutler as his quarterback, he told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that he's out to mold an explosive offense:
"I know there is a certain way to win football games in this league, been in it a long time, and I think I have earned the right to say I've had a good track record everywhere I have been."
"I've helped establish some good offenses over my career and I've played in some good offenses over my career. I think I know what a good offense looks like. At the end of the day, we're going to have a certain personality and at the end of the day it will be one of explosiveness and one of intelligence and one of rhythm and one of tempo and one of enthusiasm. You have to have all of those to be an elite offense."
Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates will be at his side and ready to help recapture the magic Cutler and Marshall found back in Denver, but there is no question that the offense will be based on Tice's design and philosophy. Be careful in assuming it will be a run-first unit, however. Tice appears primed to help the Bears surprise everyone.
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