If Bears Fire Marc Trestman, What Should They Look for in a Replacement Coach?
Published by Zach Kruse on December 17, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The reeling Chicago Bears appear to be inching closer and closer to moving on from second-year head coach Marc Trestman, a reality that will leave the club with obvious questions about what is desired in the team’s next head man.
The stoic and professorial style of Trestman hasn’t worked out. Change feels imminent.
Soon after the Bears were once again dismantled on a national stage, at least one report stated Chicago was starting the process to remove Trestman—who is just 13-17 over his first 30 games. His club is currently 5-9 and two games away from completing one of the most disappointing seasons in the franchise’s recent history.
According to Dan Bernstein of CBS Chicago, Bears ownership met following the team’s 31-15 home loss to the New Orleans Saints Monday night and concluded that Trestman would “likely be fired at season’s end.” It is the first report to date providing a scenario in which the Bears do not bring back Trestman for a third season.
There has been a reluctance to assume Trestman will be gone—not for anything he’s accomplished in 2014, but because the Bears have a long history of sticking with coaches. Loyalty comes into play, and so does money: Trestman has two years left on his deal, and the Bears are a franchise that doesn’t want to pay two coaches for one job.
His three predecessors each coached at least five seasons.
Lovie Smith survived through two 7-9 seasons over a three-year span (2007-09). Ironically, he was then let go after a 10-6 finish in 2012.
Dick Jauron had an 11-21 record after his first two seasons in Chicago. He would last another three years, including a full season after a 4-12 finish in 2002.
Dave Wannstedt, the franchise’s first head coach post-Mike Ditka, served six seasons at the helm despite never winning more than nine games in a single year. He went 4-12 in 1997—his fifth year on the job—and still returned for one more go-around in ’98.
There’s clearly reason to believe Trestman will be given at least one year. But there’s also ample evidence to show why his regime is in obvious need of replacement.
The loss to New Orleans summed up everything that has gone wrong.
Trestman‘s offense is a mess. Given 11 days to prepare for the then 31st-ranked defense in football, the Bears came up with a plan that left them scoreless through three quarters and unable to simply sustain a drive of more than five plays for the first nine possessions.
Trestman clearly hasn’t fixed quarterback Jay Cutler, who leads the league in interceptions (18) and total turnovers (24). He threw three more interceptions Monday night, including one on the offense’s first possession.
The Bears simply haven’t been competitive. Monday night’s loss was the fourth time this season Chicago has lost at home by 13 or more points. A team many believed would compete for the NFC North title has produced more lifeless performances than any in football this season.
A longtime assistant and successful CFL head coach, Trestman has simply looked in over his head leading an NFL club.
If he is in fact gone after this season, the Bears will need to decide what is desired in the next head coach.
There will be a temptation to stick with an offensive mind, for no reason other than the need to get the most out of Cutler over his contracted time left in Chicago. The Bears are most likely stuck with the 32-year-old quarterback through next season.
Current San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has been a hotly discussed name in Chicago, given his history with the Bears organization (Chicago drafted him in the first round in 1987) and his work with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco. He is looking more and more likely to be available this offseason. Could Harbaugh and Cutler coexist?
Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is one of the more highly thought-of NFL assistants and a potential Bears candidate. His name will be thrown around various coaching openings in the coming months. Gase could bring an adaptable style and experience working with Peyton Manning to Chicago.
Other current offensive coordinators such as New England‘s Josh McDaniels, Indianapolis‘ Pep Hamilton, Cincinnati‘s Hue Jackson, Seattle’s Darrell Bevell, San Francisco’s Greg Roman and Philadelphia‘s Pat Shurmur might also be options if the Bears remain dead-set on having an offensive-minded head coach calling the shots.
However, the failed Trestman experiment could lead to Bears management going back to a more defensive-centered head coach.
Chicago is a football city built on defense. Ditka won a Super Bowl with one of the best defenses in league history, and Smith brought the Bears back to the final game with another consistently dominant defensive unit. Considering Chicago is teetering on a second straight season with a league-worst defense, it might make sense to hire an up-and-coming defensive mind and leave the offense to a qualified coordinator.
There is no shortage of attractive defensive assistants the Bears could bring in.
Seattle’s Dan Quinn took over coordinating duties from Gus Bradley—who left to be the head coach in Jacksonville—and the Seahawks defense hasn’t missed a beat. He’s now put himself in line to take over a franchise.
Denver’s Jack Del Rio has previous head coaching experience. Detroit‘s Teryl Austin is building momentum as the leader of the league’s top defense. San Francisco defensive line coach Jim Tomsula has an impressive track record.
The best of the best might be Todd Bowles, Arizona’s current defensive coordinator. He’s sorted through a mess of injuries and roster subtractions to keep the Cardinals among the NFL’s best defensively. It’s possible he could work similar magic on the disaster currently engulfing the Bears’ aging and talent-deficient defense.
The Bears could go yet another way and attempt to lure one of the top college options to the NFL. Recent coaches such as Harbaugh, Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly have proved it’s possible to make the transition.
Among the best options are Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin, Stanford’s David Shaw, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn and Baylor’s Art Briles.
Then again, the Bears went unorthodox by hiring Trestman, and it came back to bite them.
Personality might also play into the search. A fiery, emotional head coach would be a strong play in the opposite direction of Trestman, who operates the sidelines without changing emotions for 60 minutes week after week.
Chicago’s ownership could still scoff at the idea of canning a coach after just two seasons. The Bears are a franchise that doesn’t make rash decisions at the position. But Trestman and the calamity of the 2014 season might force their hand.
The team’s next coach will depend on what direction the franchise wants to take. Stick with the offensive path? Pivot back to defense? Try an outside-the-box hire again? Emotional over stoic?
Regardless of the variables in play, the Bears will hope the next decision works out better than the one that brought Trestman to Chicago.
Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report.
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