Marc Trestman-David Banks-USA TODAY SPORTS
After nine seasons with Lovie Smith as the main guy, the Chicago Bears will begin the 2013 season with an entirely new coaching team. Smith was fired after the 2012 season came to a disappointing close, and in his place now comes Marc Trestman, formerly of the CFL, and his team of football gurus. In most cases, such a drastic change would give a team a bit of a window to adjust and respond, but for the Bears, the expectation will be for immediate results.
Whether it is fair to Trestman and his staff or not, the Bears are going to need to make a deep playoff run for his first season to be considered a success. Even then, if he does not get the Bears to the Super Bowl, there will be those who will see his first year as a failure.
It is a situation you are not going to avoid when you take over a team with so much talent.
The Bears defense has proven itself year after year and there is no reason to expect anything different in 2013. It sounds as though Brian Urlacher is willing to structure a new deal to fit the team needs so as to stay in Chicago, and as long as he takes the field with this team, the defense stays the same.
The addition of Brandon Marshall makes the Bears receiving corps legitimate, regardless of who else is in the stable, but with Earl Bennet and Alshon Jeffery as the next two targets on the field, the trio could easily become the most productive group in the NFL. The tight end position has some questions surrounding it, but not enough to diminish the worth of the Bears receivers.
With Matt Forte and Michael Bush both under contract until 2016, there is no lack of talent at the running back position for the Bears. The two have the physical capabilities, and those special intangibles, to become a fearsome one-two combination. Forte is a premier back in this league and Bush could easily be a starter on most teams in the NFL.
Much of the success, or failure, of the Bears future lies on the arm of their quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler has taken a ton of heat throughout his tenure in the Windy City, but he has everything it takes to be one of the best. A strong arm, toughness and a lack of fear make him a great gunslinger. A pouty demeanor, standoffish aura and his history of poor decision making skills make him a constant target for derision and hatred. If Trestman can harness his ability and get Cutler zoned in, it is likely the public opinion on the guy would change and all of the Tom Brady/Randy Moss records would be in serious danger.
With a team this stacked with talent, Trestman will have a tough time defending a losing season, and to the fans of the Chicago Bears, a losing season will be anything short of a Super Bowl win.
Jeff Everette is a Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @jeverettesports, “Like” his page on FaceBook, or add him to your network on Google+.
