Marc Trestman Week 5 In Review

The Bears coaches are getting pretty good at making halftime adjustments and it starts with Trestman. I know that Mel Tucker is the Bears Defensive Coordinator but I imagine things were discussed and ideas where voiced because the defense held their own in the 2nd half for the most part, and the offense continued to move the ball up and down the field with some ease.

At halftime the Saints had scored 20 points and All-World TE Jimmy Graham had 7 catches for 106 yards. The Saints scored 2 more field goals and Graham only had 3 more catches for 29 yards the rest of the game; Drew Brees was held under 300 yards passing for the first time in 10 games and the Saints only had 66 yards rushing as a team for the entire game.

Oct 6, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) celebrates his touchdown with guard Matt Slauson (68) during the second half against New Orleans at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears scored 11 points in the 2nd half, Jay Cutler had his best game statistically of the season; RB Matt Forte had another 95 yards from scrimmage and Alshon Jeffery broke a crazy old receiving record. They started a drive from the 1 yard line and drove it down the field and probably would have scored if WR Earl Bennett catches the ball on 4th down.

That drive was nice and frustrating all at the same time. There was no sense of urgency whatsoever. I understand that there were 15 minutes left in the game but their drive lasted 6:20 and they got nothing for it. The Saints had the ball for nearly 28 minutes by that point and proceeded to take up another 5:39 to leave the Bears down by 16 with 3:01 left in the game.

50 seconds later the Bears score a touchdown and successfully complete the 2pt conversion and were down by 8.

Again.

For the second straight week.

Bears K Robbie “Good As” Gould (on anything that is an extra point or field goal but not onside kicks) fails (with the kickoff hands team) to recover the onside kick, the Saints take another 1:43 off the clock; leaving the Bears :21 seconds left and they only get off one play. In 21 seconds.

That is not acceptable. 

Like I said before; I loved the Bears composure and how relaxed they seemed throughout the game, but I thought they were a little too relaxed over all.

I believe the Bears coaching staff was out-coached by the Saints coaching staff; it pains me to say it but it’s true. The Saints had a better game plan going into the game or at least executed it better and the Bears were never able to catch up.

As detail oriented as Trestman is known to be; this has got to be frustrating to him and if it’s not at least a little frustrating; something is wrong.

I have a feeling that Coach T is going to have his team focused and prepared to face the 0-5 New York Giants on a short week (Thursday Night Football) because nobody wants to be the team to give up a win to a win-less team, especially at this point of the season; I know the Bears will learn something from this game and I hope it lights a fire under their rear-ends. They have back to back, very winnable games (Giants and Redskins) before their bye week.

We all knew the Bears were not going to go undefeated, in fact, most prognosticators picked the Bears to win between 8-11 games.  I really believe the Saints are the best (most complete) team the Bears will face all season including those green and yellow jack wagons from Wisconsin. The schedule gets easier from here and I like the overall direction the team is headed.

Trestman is coming into his own as a play caller but it is still going to take some time to readjust to the NFL. The Bears are going to be better. I would rather take a loss or two at the beginning of the season, where my team’s flaws are exposed, iron the kinks out then move into the second half of the season playing and competing at a much higher level and with a much better football team, than win early and be exposed in the latter half of the season and miss the playoffs.

Sometimes you need to take one (or two) step(s) back in order to take three, four, five or more steps forward.