Aaron Kromer Should Improve the Chicago Bears Offensive Line
Published by Matt Eurich on January 16, 2013
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Before the dust could even settle following the announcement of the Chicago Bears’ hiring of new head coach Marc Trestman, he was hard at work assembly a new staff, including New Orleans Saints’ offensive line coach, Aaron Kromer (h/t Chicago Sun-Times).
Kromer served as the Saints interim head coach for the first six games of the season, following the season-long suspension for Sean Payton and the six-game suspension of Joe Vitt. The Saints started off 0-4 before winning the final two of his interim tenure. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, he is expected to be the new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in Chicago.
His coaching career has been largely rooted in the offensive line, holding the offensive line coach position in 1998 at his alma mater Miami (OH) and from 1999-2000 at Northwestern.
He made his move to the NFL in 2001 with the Raiders as their assistant offensive line coach before being promoted in 2002, the same year in which Trestman held the offensive coordinator position.
He held the same position in Oakland until 2004 before spending time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005-2007) as a senior assistant and offensive line coach before his tenure with the Saints (2008-2012), in which he was the running backs’ coach in 2008 before moving back to the offensive line in 2009.
During his tenure in the NFL, he has helped develop seven Pro Bowlers—Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks, Jermon Bushrod, Jonathan Goodwin and Jon Stinchcomb in New Orleans, as well as Lincoln Kennedy and Barrett Robbins in Oakland.
His offensive lines in 2009 and 2011 were named the Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award, which is given annually to the best offensive line in the NFL.
The Bears have struggled in recent years with developing talent along the offensive line and the hiring of Kromer is a step in the right direction. In the last four seasons, his offensive line in New Orleans has given up a combined 96 sacks, while during that same period of time, the Bears have given up 184.
An offensive line cannot be completely fixed overnight or even in one offseason, but given Kromer‘s success developing offensive lines throughout his career, Bears fans should have plenty of optimism heading into the 2013 season.
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