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INDIANAPOLIS – It’s assumed that the Bears offense will improve in 2009 and beyond because promising young players such as Kyle Orton, Matt Forte, Devin Hester and Greg Olsen will continue to develop.

The Bears defense, on the other hand, returns a core of established veterans who struggled as a group in 2008, particularly against the pass. With the same players in the same positions this coming season, why does general manager Jerry Angelo believe that the unit will perform any better?

The Bears defense ranked 21st in the NFL in total yards and 30th against the pass in 2008.

“Two things—attitude and coaching,” Angelo said during a 45-minute session with Chicago media Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “I think both of those things could get our defense back and going and being a very good defense.

“Do we want to infuse it with more talent? Yes, we do, and we’re going to be looking at some positions to do that. But I certainly feel like we have a pretty good nucleus and there’s no reason to believe that we can’t play good defense this year and be the defense maybe not that we were a few years ago but certainly be a more consistent defense and a more opportunistic defense.

“I feel very strongly about that, and it starts with the front. There’s no reason to believe that we don’t have the talent up front to do that, and we know that the front drives the train, particularly in our scheme.”

Working with that front for the first time this year will be Rod Marinelli, who’s widely considered one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL. The Bears are hoping that Marinelli helps Tommie Harris, Mark Anderson and their linemates raise their level of play.

“In our situation, it starts with our present cast,” Angelo said. “We’ve got a good nucleus. [But] I was disappointed that we weren’t able to get more consistency with the pass rush.

“Rod’s an excellent football coach. I think he’s going to get the most out of the players and hopefully they can take another step collectively as a group and individually. I don’t feel any reason why they can’t. Some have higher ceilings than others, but I feel that will be an improved group.

“I like the way our defensive staff is shaping up, and I’m counting on the fact that we’re going to do a better job of coaching. That in itself is going to make us a better football team, irrelevant of what [new players] we infuse in our football team this year.”

Many believe that Marinelli’s arrival will provide a boost for Harris, a three-time Pro Bowler who didn’t perform as consistency well last season as he had in the past. Harris has spent the past few weeks regularly watching tape in Marinelli's office at Halas Hall.

“My opinion on any player is this: If he wants to be great, there shouldn’t really be anything outside of injuries to keep him from being great, and with a coach like Rod, if Tommie wants to be great, he can be great,” Angelo said.

“Rod’s got a great track record, but the mindset starts with the player. The coach is the facilitator … But the player has to have the passion to be great, and I believe Tommie has that passion. If they want to be great, they’re in a real good situation with Rod Marinelli.”

The addition of Marinelli was only part of a revamping of the defensive coaching staff. Head coach Lovie Smith will be more involved in play-calling, Bob Babich retained his title as defensive coordinator but was moved back to linebackers coach and Jon Hoke replaced Steve Wilks as defensive backs coach.

Asked about Smith adding play-calling responsibilities, Angelo said: “What he’s doing has been done, is being done by other head coaches. He’s got the ability to know what the head-coaching position is. He’s been at it a good while now. So I feel he is very comfortable and I think it makes us better.

“I promote it personally because we’re drawing on everyone’s expertise. … I feel real good about the defensive staff and I think collectively they’re going to make a difference. I feel very strongly about that.”

While the Bears have made changes to their coaching staff, the team’s success is ultimately up to those who run, pass, block and tackle.

“It comes back to players wanting to be great and then putting that into action in terms of their work ethic, in terms of doing all the things that they need to do and holding themselves personally accountable to be the best they can be,” Angelo said. “That’s all we ask of our players—just be the best you can be, stay within the framework of the team and hang tough.

“If you get a locker room full of players filled with that mentality, you don’t need great talent to win on Sunday. That’s very important, and I also believe that every year a team takes on a whole new identity. You can’t look at last year and say, ‘Well, they’re going to pick up here good or bad.’ A team takes on that identity starting when they come back in that offseason program, and that’s incumbent of the players.

“Coaching will [only] take you so far. Our coaches will be driven to be a great football team. That’s what we’re expected to do and we’re all paid to win, but we’re all incumbent to do our jobs. We’re all held accountable.”