NFC North News: Titans To Interview Mike Tice For Offensive Coordinator Job?

by Christopher Gates on Feb 13, 2011 1:21 PM CST in NFC North

BOURBONNAIS IL - JULY 30: Offensive line coach Mike Tice of the Chicago Bears walks out for a summer training camp practice at Olivet Nazarene University on July 30 2010 in Bourbonnais Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I've always liked Mike Tice. . .he may not be the most eloquent speaker, and when he does speak he has a tendency to say things that he shouldn't (see also: The "Randy Ratio"), but I always thought he got a bit of a raw deal in Minnesota. He was unfortunate enough to be the head coach during the tenure of Red McCombs, who did everything with the Vikings on the cheap. For crying out loud, in Tice's final season here, Steve Loney was serving as both the offensive coordinator and the offensive line coach at the same time, because McCombs wouldn't let Tice hire more people to his staff. He also did a pretty damn fine job during the tumultuous 2005 season of steering the Vikings to a winning record despite all the things that went on.

This past season, he was with the Chicago Bears as their offensive line coach, and though the Bears' offensive line was a disaster when the season started. . .witness Jay Cutler getting sacked nine times in a half against the New York Giants if you want visual proof. . .Tice moved some parts around and adjusted a few schemes, and the Chicago offensive line got markedly better over the course of the season.

Now, our friends over at Music City Miracles are reporting that Tice is a serious candidate for the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator job under their new head coach, Mike Munchak.

Personally. . .and, again, I might be biased, since I've already said that I'm a huge Tice fan. . .but I think that losing Mike Tice would be a huge blow to the Chicago Bears. Brian Billick declared that what Tice had done with the Bears' offensive line over the course of the 2010 season was "nothing less than miraculous," and I tend to agree. There were few assistant coaches anywhere that did the job that Tice did last year with the Bears. Whoever Chicago would get to replace Tice in the position of offensive line coach would undoubtedly be a downgrade. . .and, hey, any advantage that the Bears want to give us in our efforts to catch them for the NFC North title is a welcome one, in my book.

So, that's two good reasons to hope that Mike Tice gets this job as the Titans' offensive coordinator. . .not only does the guy deserve a shot to climb the ladder, but it would definitely be a blow to one of our closest rivals.

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I agree with you

I had some issues with Tice because he seemed to have no idea how to handle his players sometime, and some of the most embarrassing moments in Viking history happened during his tenure, but he definitely knows his X’s and O’s. I think he’s a good coach and it would be outstanding for us if he went to Tennessee.

I have a question to post for the sake of debate. Who was most responsible for the Bears success on offense this season, Mike Tice with the O-line or Mike Martz with the entire offensive scheme? I would say Tice, because without his improvements with the O-line, Mike Martz offense doesn’t have the time required for plays to develop. What are you thoughts, my fellow Norseman?

by SkolNick on Feb 13, 2011 2:17 PM CST reply actions

That's a good question

Martz failed in Detroit and San Francisco but didn’t have a gunslinger like Cutler to execute his offense. On the other hand, the improved offensive line play allowed a 3rd string emergency QB to come in and move the ball in the championship game.

I’ve always liked Mike Tice and hopes he gets the Titans job for the two reasons Mr. Gates mentioned – good for him and make Chicago a little weaker.

by Caretaker QB on Feb 13, 2011 3:08 PM CST reply actions

I agree.

To me, Chilly was always a downgrade from Tice. And please don’t say “well, Chilly cleaned up the locker room”- the fact that Chilly had two of his assistant coaches lie on his behalf about the whereabouts of Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Ryan Longwell during the events of the Favreover have completely soured me to any reputation Chilly had as a ‘clean-up’ guy: I can’t buy that you held others accountable when your own actions showed a lack of integrity. (OK, rant over.)

I think Chi-town’s O-line later season successes had a lot to do with Tice. It’s no lie to say that he built our O-line into the dominant beast that it was- and that Chilly, in turn, decimated it into the joke that it is now.

In reality, it’s a shame to me that he couldn’t come and be OUR O-line coach.

Nothing's tougher than being a diehard Vikings fan.

by KJSegall on Feb 13, 2011 5:16 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

Agreed that it’d be a big blow. I think he was the biggest factor in their offensive line developing some stability. If that wouldn’t have happened post bye week for them, that offense would have never got going.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 13, 2011 6:40 PM CST reply actions

God just imagine how great that would be for the Vikes

I mean, even later in the season their O-line wasn’t great, but Tice got it to be passable. Early in the season, it was atrocious. Imagine if Tice left. Olin Kruetz, Chicago’s best O-lineman, is a free agent, who will be very sought after. The Bears have a reputation as penny-pinchers so they might not bring him back. Think of what the Bears O-line will look like without their best o-lineman and the coach that held it all together. Jared Allen and Kevin Williams will be living in the backfield. Come on Titans, get it done!!

by SkolNick on Feb 13, 2011 8:58 PM CST reply actions

Tice

I was hoping that he may have been considered for the Vikes’ OC position, but I wish him well with the Titans (and I don’t feel bad about it since they’re in the other conference). Coaches who have had the experience of playing QB in college and TE (blocking and receiving) in the NFL do not grow on trees. Who could be more qualified to be an OC than someone like Mike Tice?

by KC Viking on Feb 13, 2011 10:58 PM CST reply actions

I think he was a better HC than Childress. Games were exciting even in losses. Maybe he was too buddy-buddy with players, but I’d definitely welcome him down here to the Titans in a Offensive coach role.

by DonBorvio on Feb 14, 2011 3:29 AM CST reply actions

God this is great news

I’ve thought all year that Tice was the best pick up Chicago made last year and yeah that means I thought he’d affect their game more than Peppers.. Without him Cutler goes back to being pummeled to death. Pretty much a win win situation for everyone!

It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...

by Grime on Feb 14, 2011 9:31 AM CST reply actions