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CHICAGO BEARS
John Fox

Bears offseason report: Can John Fox spark another quick turnaround?

Tom Pelissero
USA TODAY Sports
The Bears are John Fox's third NFL head coaching stop.

New Chicago Bears coach John Fox told players during an offseason gathering "our attitude will control our altitude," and veteran pass rusher Jared Allen couldn't agree more.

After a season marked by drama off the field and highly disappointing results on it, the Bears cleaned house on the coaching staff and in the front office — sweeping changes they hope can spark a rapid turnaround with a roster still laden with veterans.

"Our attitudes weren't in position for us to be successful (last season)," Allen told USA TODAY Sports recently. "It's going to completely change. It's a 180, and that's really the focus — it's about going to work, having fun, going out on Sunday and whooping someone's butt."

To be sure, the Bears' problems in 2014 extended beyond mindset. But once things began to unravel, mild-mannered coach Marc Trestman couldn't rein in the chaos.

There was shouting in the locker room, consecutive losses in which the Bears gave up more than 50 points and an assistant coach outing himself for leaking negative information about the franchise quarterback, Jay Cutler, who was benched before the 5-11 debacle was over.

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It all cost Trestman, general manager Phil Emery, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer and others their jobs. The Bears hired Ryan Pace as GM and then Fox, the former Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos coach who arrived with the track record of NFL success Trestman lacked.

"When you have adversities, a question of 'am I truly bought in' comes up, right?" Allen said. "Because it's easy to buy in when you're winning. But how do you buy into something when it's failing? You can't say this guy's got all this experience, and his way is proven. Then those questions come up, and that's when things get splintered."

Enigmatic Cutler is still around, thanks at least in part to a contract extension gifted by Emery that owes him $16 million fully guaranteed in 2015.

But Pace jettisoned five-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall in a trade with the New York Jets and used his top draft pick on West Virginia's Kevin White, altering the locker room dynamic and an offense that now will be coordinated by ex-Broncos assistant Adam Gase.

The defense is transitioning from the remnants of ex-coach Lovie Smith's Tampa 2 to a very foreign 3-4 scheme under former San Francisco 49ers coordinator Vic Fangio — without the long-tenured likes of linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman, who weren't re-signed.

It means a new role for Allen, the league's active leader with 134 career sacks, who hasn't been a standup linebacker since high school. But he said the learning process can be positive for him and other players who entered "coast mode" at times last season.

"You go out and get John Fox and Vic Fangio and Adam Gase — you're sending a message to every player in that locker room that we're not messing around," Allen said.

"We want to win. We want to win now. We certainly have the talent to win. So, get your heads right and let's go play ball."

WATCH: NFC burning questions

Quarterback

The Bears re-signed Cutler after the 2013 season, believing Trestman could be the coach who finally allowed him to unlock his tremendous potential. Instead, Cutler regressed into a turnover machine in 2014 (24 in 15 games), and things got so ugly that backup Jimmy Clausen got one late-season start. Cutler, 32, has another $10 million fully guaranteed in 2016 as part of his $16 million salary that season. But given the regime change and the work the Bears did on the class of rookie QBs this year (even though they didn't draft one), this could well be Cutler's last shot in Chicago. Clausen re-signed a one-year, $1.125 million deal to back him up, along with David Fales.

Running back

Matt Forte remains one of the NFL's best all-around backs. He's coming off a third straight 1,000-yard rushing season — albeit at 3.9 yards per carry — and caught 102 passes in 2014, the most ever by a running back in a single season. His age (29) and contract status (due $8.2 million in this, the last year of his deal) raise the question of how long he'll be around, though. The Bears used a fourth-round pick on Michigan State's speedy Jeremy Langford and signed Jacquizz Rodgers to a minimum salary benefit deal to compete on the depth chart with second-year pros Ka'Deem Carey and Senorise Perry.

Wide receiver

Marshall's departure could mean fewer favorable matchups in a contract year for Alshon Jeffery, who has 174 catches for 2,554 yards and 17 touchdowns over the past two seasons. But using the No. 7 overall pick on White — another big-bodied receiving threat with 4.3-range speed at 6-3 and 215 pounds — figures to mitigate that if things go to plan. The West Virginia product is a playmaker, plain and simple. The Bears also shelled out for slot man Eddie Royal (three years, $15 million, $10M guaranteed) and have Marquess Wilson, who flashed in camp last year before getting hurt.

Tight end

After a fight led to a brief team suspension in camp last year, Martellus Bennett had his best season (90 catches for 916 yards and six TDs). At age 28, he has outplayed his contract, which has two years and $10.185 million remaining, none of it guaranteed. But it remains to be seen if the new regime wants to commit to him long-term. Journeyman Dante Rosario is a role player. Zach Miller, who hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2011, did some positive things in camp last year before getting hurt and is back on a minimum deal.

Offensive line

Right guard Kyle Long has made two Pro Bowls in as many NFL seasons and is the anchor. The Bears return three other starters: left tackle Jermon Bushrod, right tackle Jordan Mills and left guard Matt Slauson, who played in just five games before landing on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. Roberto Garza, the starting center for a decade, was cut in April. The Bears used a third-round pick on Hroniss Grasu, Long's buddy who started 52 games at center for Oregon, and also signed veteran Will Montgomery to a minimum deal. Experienced depth includes Michael Ola, who made 12 starts as a rookie last season, and Vladimir Ducasse.

Defensive line

Second-round draft pick Eddie Goldman's 6-4, 336-pound frame make the Florida State product a logical choice to start at nose tackle. But the Bears will need time to sort things out in a new defense. They have veteran Jeremiah Ratliff, who's still quick at age 33. They have Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton, leftovers from Emery's final draft class. And they have Jarvis Jenkins, who came over from the Washington Redskins on a one-year deal. The signing (and subsequent release) of Ray McDonald during the offseason certainly didn't reflect well on the organization.

Linebacker

Allen isn't the only veteran making a major transition. Lamarr Houston — who tore an ACL celebrating a sack late in a blowout loss to the New England Patriots in October, months after signing a five-year, $35 million contract — is also moving to outside linebacker. So is Willie Young, who is coming off a torn Achilles' tendon. Once cleared, they'll compete with this year's free-agent prize, ex-Baltimore Raven Pernell McPhee, who got $15.5 million guaranteed on a five-year, $38.75 million deal. Sam Acho came over from the Arizona Cardinals on a minimum deal. Former first-round pick Shea McClellin, whose fifth-year option was declined, will compete inside with Jon Bostic, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mason Foster and Christian Jones.

Secondary

Last year's first-round pick, Kyle Fuller, is entrenched at one cornerback spot. Veteran Tim Jennings is likely to play the other, though the Bears gave ex-Jacksonville Jaguar Alan Ball a one-year, $3 million deal in March and also have rising nickel corner Demontre Hurst. At safety, the Bears signed 32-year-old Antrel Rolle, whose leadership will be a plus. Ryan Mundy, a longtime special teamer who started every game last season, and Brock Vereen figure to compete for the other job. Fifth-round pick Adrian Amos (Penn State) could get a look, too.

Special teams

Kicker Robbie Gould and his fully guaranteed $2.9 million salary are back for an 11th season after he battled through a nagging quadriceps injury in his kicking leg last season. Punter Pat O'Donnell and long snapper Thomas Gafford also return. So does reserve receiver Marc Mariani, who handled return duties down the stretch in 2014.

Coaching

Fox, 60, has taken two teams to the Super Bowl and gained a reputation as a turnaround artist. Now he'll try to engineer another after parting ways with the Broncos in the wake of last year's one-and-done playoff trip. Fangio, 56, brings credibility as well, having coordinated the defenses that helped the 49ers reach three straight NFC title games and a Super Bowl from 2011 to '13. Gase, 37, spent the past two years coordinating Peyton Manning's offenses with the Broncos and interviewed for several head jobs this offseason. Fox also brought along Jeff Rodgers, who has coached special teams since their days in Carolina.

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Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero

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