Bears Offseason Thread (Trestman new HC, pg 37)

[Banedon]

@KristinCav

 

Jay and I are filming @theleaguefx today!!! Great to be back http://t.co/wxARfK7oRp

 

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/60/files/2013/07/cutler-on-the-league-e1373998097172.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

PFT ranks the Bears 18th in their preseason rankings:

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/16/preseason-power-rankings-no-18-chicago-bears/

 

Jesus. That seems a tad harsh.

 

I think it's probably on the low end of a reasonable range. There's a lot of volatility in reasonable expectations.

[rawaction]

PFT ranks the Bears 18th in their preseason rankings:

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/16/preseason-power-rankings-no-18-chicago-bears/

 

Jesus. That seems a tad harsh.

 

I think it's probably on the low end of a reasonable range. There's a lot of volatility in reasonable expectations.

 

I guess I get the logic. Lost 5 of 8 to end the season. Offense got predictable with Cutler to Marshall and the Bears didn't really do anything to address the offensive weapons other than getting a TE (though the perception is that they didn't use the TE much anyway, which maybe they didn't because they sucked). New coach. Losing a coach that everyone liked to play for. Losing the face of the franchise (despite the fact he wasn't very good last year).

 

But still, only 8 teams won more games than this Bears team which either brought back or upgraded every starter except maybe MLB. Given that the Bears didn't lose much and conceivably upgraded its biggest weakness of the OL, and finished at worst 13th (if u consider they were the best team that didn't make the playoffs, though they 4 other teams also won 10 games)....the worst possible scenario if the rest of the league greatly improved and Trestman is a disaster would be 18th best for the Bears.

[Wilson A2000]

So your mid first rd draft pick probably not a starter in year two means it's a bad pick

[Banedon]

Cutler was on Waddle and Silvy yesterday. Podcast is up.

[Banedon]

Bears single game tickets go on sale Thursday.

[jersey cubs fan]

the worst possible scenario if the rest of the league greatly improved and Trestman is a disaster would be 18th best for the Bears.

 

I think that is insane.

 

If Trestman is a disaster, this team is going to fall apart in a hurry. They were held together by a defense that relied heavily on a system that is no longer being run by the people who implemented and ran the system. And all its best players are old. This team could be drafting at the top within a year or two if Trestman is a disaster. And a CFL coach who hasn't been in the league for a decade and is a weirdo has greater than a 0% chance of being a disaster.

[Soul]

the worst possible scenario if the rest of the league greatly improved and Trestman is a disaster would be 18th best for the Bears.

 

I think that is insane.

 

If Trestman is a disaster, this team is going to fall apart in a hurry. They were held together by a defense that relied heavily on a system that is no longer being run by the people who implemented and ran the system. And all its best players are old. This team could be drafting at the top within a year or two if Trestman is a disaster. And a CFL coach who hasn't been in the league for a decade and is a weirdo has greater than a 0% chance of being a disaster.

 

Trestman doesn't strike me as the kind of coach who can weather a disastrous start. He'll go down quick if the Bears are a trainwreck this year.

[UMFan83]

the worst possible scenario if the rest of the league greatly improved and Trestman is a disaster would be 18th best for the Bears.

 

I think that is insane.

 

If Trestman is a disaster, this team is going to fall apart in a hurry. They were held together by a defense that relied heavily on a system that is no longer being run by the people who implemented and ran the system. And all its best players are old. This team could be drafting at the top within a year or two if Trestman is a disaster. And a CFL coach who hasn't been in the league for a decade and is a weirdo has greater than a 0% chance of being a disaster.

 

Trestman doesn't strike me as the kind of coach who can weather a disastrous start. He'll go down quick if the Bears are a trainwreck this year.

 

What makes you think that?

[jersey cubs fan]

the worst possible scenario if the rest of the league greatly improved and Trestman is a disaster would be 18th best for the Bears.

 

I think that is insane.

 

If Trestman is a disaster, this team is going to fall apart in a hurry. They were held together by a defense that relied heavily on a system that is no longer being run by the people who implemented and ran the system. And all its best players are old. This team could be drafting at the top within a year or two if Trestman is a disaster. And a CFL coach who hasn't been in the league for a decade and is a weirdo has greater than a 0% chance of being a disaster.

 

Trestman doesn't strike me as the kind of coach who can weather a disastrous start. He'll go down quick if the Bears are a trainwreck this year.

 

What makes you think that?

 

He's a hippy dippy "we're all winners" coach with a resume that is easy to disrespect, especially veterans on the defensive side of the ball.

[Soul]

the worst possible scenario if the rest of the league greatly improved and Trestman is a disaster would be 18th best for the Bears.

 

I think that is insane.

 

If Trestman is a disaster, this team is going to fall apart in a hurry. They were held together by a defense that relied heavily on a system that is no longer being run by the people who implemented and ran the system. And all its best players are old. This team could be drafting at the top within a year or two if Trestman is a disaster. And a CFL coach who hasn't been in the league for a decade and is a weirdo has greater than a 0% chance of being a disaster.

 

Trestman doesn't strike me as the kind of coach who can weather a disastrous start. He'll go down quick if the Bears are a trainwreck this year.

 

What makes you think that?

 

A lot of the same things jersey said. CFL coach, kind of an egghead. There's not a lot of the traditional NFL cache' to draw on to weather an early storm.

[jersey cubs fan]

A lot of the same things jersey said. CFL coach, kind of an egghead. There's not a lot of the traditional NFL cache' to draw on to weather an early storm.

 

In comparison, Lovie was a longtime NFL coach, well respected in Tampa Bay and widely praised as turning the Rams defense into a solid unit before taking the Bears job. He was probably the hottest name out there that offseason (among coordinators looking for promotion) and was a big ole' stoic Texan. Players loved him, and they played for him and outside of that first year, when he took over a disaster of a team, they never lost more than 9 games. Their bad years were mediocre at worst. It was a defensive oriented organization from top to bottom with a defensive head coach who always had his defense there to buffer the weak offense. That defense is very old now, with all the key coaches and the captain gone. They've suffered through more than half a decade of bad drafts and do not have the steady stream of young studs necessary to replenish the defense. I think the defense is right on the precipice of a quick decline unless the older veterans manage to forestall time and/or some young guys emerge immediately.

 

They need the offense to click early and often. If Trestman isn't really good at this, he, and the team, are going to be really bad. I don't see much middle ground, which is where the Bears spent most of the Lovie era.

[rawaction]

the worst possible scenario if the rest of the league greatly improved and Trestman is a disaster would be 18th best for the Bears.

 

I think that is insane.

 

If Trestman is a disaster, this team is going to fall apart in a hurry. They were held together by a defense that relied heavily on a system that is no longer being run by the people who implemented and ran the system. And all its best players are old. This team could be drafting at the top within a year or two if Trestman is a disaster. And a CFL coach who hasn't been in the league for a decade and is a weirdo has greater than a 0% chance of being a disaster.

 

Maybe the word "disaster" was wrong to use.

 

I think the defense can still hold it together because of those older players. And I don't see Trestman being a disaster offensively. Disaster was the last several years. At worse, the offense is status quo because of the similar talent level to last year. At worse, the defense is still slightly above average. Still don't think that's a team that more than 1/2 the league will be better than.

[scarey]

@KristinCav

 

Jay and I are filming @theleaguefx today!!! Great to be back http://t.co/wxARfK7oRp

 

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/60/files/2013/07/cutler-on-the-league-e1373998097172.jpg

 

I hope they really play up the DON'T CARE Jay Cutler persona.

[jersey cubs fan]

I hope they wife swap

[Banedon]

“The mantra on defense is still the same: Make plays and create turnovers,” Tillman said. “That attitude has not changed. Coach Tucker and the rest of the defensive coaches … they know about the legacy of the Bears defense. I think they want to uphold that legacy still. I don’t think they want it to die on their watch.

 

“They are highly-competitive coaches and I think they will use their tools to help tweak areas of weakness in our defense that they feel we can be an even more dominant defense.”

 

Phil Emery made the decision to hire a new coach so this coach could take us in the direction. My role as a player is to buy into that system and do whatever I can to help this team to win a Super Bowl. I think myself and the rest of the players have bought into Coach Trestman’s scheme and his system and we want to win and we want to win now. We’re not in a rebuild mode. We don’t have time to rebuild. We’re in the winning now business. The win RIGHT now business.”

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-chicago-bears-news-tillman-is-in-winnow-mode-20130717,0,151361.story

[Smack]

I hope they wife swap

 

hahaha

[ctcf]

Call me crazy but I remain pretty optimistic about Trestman for some reason.

[jersey cubs fan]

Call me crazy but I remain pretty optimistic about Trestman for some reason.

 

There's plenty of reason for people to be optimistic. Nothing crazy about that. I have very big doubts, but remain hopeful he can get the job done.

[Soul]

Call me crazy but I remain pretty optimistic about Trestman for some reason.

 

There's plenty of reason for people to be optimistic. Nothing crazy about that. I have very big doubts, but remain hopeful he can get the job done.

 

Yes -- when gambles like this pay off, it's a lot of fun. Especially since it would be the Bears turning to the offensive side of the ball for success.

 

It's just a feast or famine situation. In some ways, I've been hoping the Bears would do something out of the ordinary. Not sure Trestman was what I was hoping for, but if he's the guy to overturn decades of Bears defense-only football and usher the franchise into the new NFL once and for all.....I'll take it.

[Guest]

Call me crazy but I remain pretty optimistic about Trestman for some reason.

 

There's plenty of reason for people to be optimistic. Nothing crazy about that. I have very big doubts, but remain hopeful he can get the job done.

 

obviously, we know very little about the man in terms of contemporary, 11-man football. it could really go either way, and drastically.

[Banedon]

“It’s different,” said Tillman, who was outspoken about his displeasure with the dismissal of Lovie Smith. “The one thing that I will say – (Trestman’s) interest is for the team. It’s not just for offense and it’s not just for defense. His interest is for the greater good of our team. Every decision he makes, there’s a reason why. If you don’t know why, just ask him and he’ll tell you.”

 

Tillman also talks about being jealous of the Blackhawks...

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/07/17/tillman-jealous-of-what-the-blackhawks-did/

[rawaction]

Call me crazy but I remain pretty optimistic about Trestman for some reason.

 

There's plenty of reason for people to be optimistic. Nothing crazy about that. I have very big doubts, but remain hopeful he can get the job done.

 

obviously, we know very little about the man in terms of contemporary, 11-man football. it could really go either way, and drastically.

 

See, I don't think it will be that drastic either way. I think in the NFL games are won by players, schemes, and playcalling. Most of the players from a 10-win team are back. Granted, the guys on D are a year older, but they actually got younger (going away from Urlacher and Idonije) and guys like Tillman, Jennings, and Briggs are coming off at or near the best seasons of their careers. The dropoff doesn't happen that fast without injury (which obviously could happen).

 

As for schemes and playcalling, that's supposedly where Trestman excels. Granted that's in question because it has been 10 years since he has done either at the NFL level, but it's going to be hard NOT to improve over the last 3 years in both of those aspects. The key will be how much better the playcalling and schemes are on the offensive side of the ball vs. how much worse they are on the defensive side. But the defense is where the "players" still are for this team.

[jersey cubs fan]

Call me crazy but I remain pretty optimistic about Trestman for some reason.

 

There's plenty of reason for people to be optimistic. Nothing crazy about that. I have very big doubts, but remain hopeful he can get the job done.

 

obviously, we know very little about the man in terms of contemporary, 11-man football. it could really go either way, and drastically.

 

See, I don't think it will be that drastic either way. I think in the NFL games are won by players, schemes, and playcalling. Most of the players from a 10-win team are back. Granted, the guys on D are a year older, but they actually got younger (going away from Urlacher and Idonije) and guys like Tillman, Jennings, and Briggs are coming off at or near the best seasons of their careers. The dropoff doesn't happen that fast without injury (which obviously could happen).

 

As for schemes and playcalling, that's supposedly where Trestman excels. Granted that's in question because it has been 10 years since he has done either at the NFL level, but it's going to be hard NOT to improve over the last 3 years in both of those aspects. The key will be how much better the playcalling and schemes are on the offensive side of the ball vs. how much worse they are on the defensive side. But the defense is where the "players" still are for this team.

 

I think the dropoff does and can happen that fast. Defense, especially this defense, is about speed and quick reaction. A veteran wide receiver can lose a step and remain effective. Not so a defensive back. I think you are underestimating the coaching change on defense. And the potential for a change in team personality with the move from Lovie to Trestman. Motivation matters in football, as well as scheme.

 

You have three coaching related issues that could play a role in this team actually taking a step back.

1) The move away from Lovie and Rod for a defense that has been all about Lovie and Rod for nearly a decade. And in addition to that, the leadership of the defensive captain is gone.

 

2) While it may be true that it would be difficult not to improve on the past offense, it is also true that it can take time for an offensive system to start to work. And with this aging defense, time is not on their side. Not to mention, it has the potential to be a make or break year for Cutler, and their best (and to this date only) WR is a volatile dude who could flip out if things look ugly.

 

3) The move from Lovie to Trestman has the potential to alienate the veterans and cause a riff. Most head coaching moves come from a guy retiring, a team falling apart, or a talented team underperforming. Lovie never figured out the offense, but they never fell apart under him and it would be rough to say they ever underperformed their talent level.

 

While I am all about the belief that baseball is a just a series of one on one matchups that require a sum of the parts situation, football is different. Coaching matters, scheme matters and motivation matters. Again, this is not to say that all these issues are likely to cause a setback, just that they are real challenges this team faces.

[mul21]

 

I think the dropoff does and can happen that fast. Defense, especially this defense, is about speed and quick reaction. A veteran wide receiver can lose a step and remain effective. Not so a defensive back. I think you are underestimating the coaching change on defense. And the potential for a change in team personality with the move from Lovie to Trestman. Motivation matters in football, as well as scheme.

 

You have three coaching related issues that could play a role in this team actually taking a step back.

1) The move away from Lovie and Rod for a defense that has been all about Lovie and Rod for nearly a decade. And in addition to that, the leadership of the defensive captain is gone.

 

2) While it may be true that it would be difficult not to improve on the past offense, it is also true that it can take time for an offensive system to start to work. And with this aging defense, time is not on their side. Not to mention, it has the potential to be a make or break year for Cutler, and their best (and to this date only) WR is a volatile dude who could flip out if things look ugly.

 

3) The move from Lovie to Trestman has the potential to alienate the veterans and cause a riff. Most head coaching moves come from a guy retiring, a team falling apart, or a talented team underperforming. Lovie never figured out the offense, but they never fell apart under him and it would be rough to say they ever underperformed their talent level.

 

While I am all about the belief that baseball is a just a series of one on one matchups that require a sum of the parts situation, football is different. Coaching matters, scheme matters and motivation matters. Again, this is not to say that all these issues are likely to cause a setback, just that they are real challenges this team faces.

 

I can agree with all of that except for #3. I think the comments by Tillman yesterday go a long way toward showing that this group of players is certainly willing to play hard for Trestman. Being that he's one of the team leaders on defense, while he may have been miffed by Lovie being canned, he seems to be on board with the change right now and has at least Tillman in his camp. Not to say it can't/won't happen, but I'd be mildly surprised if it did after hearing what Tillman had to say about the situation.