Steve Young: Trestman would help Bears and Cutler
In the history of the NFL, only Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers has a higher career passer rating than Hall of Famer Steve Young, and Young believes Marc Trestman is a good fit for the Bears and their underachieving quarterback, Jay Cutler.
Trestman, the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, is one of three finalists for the Bears’ head-coaching job. He spent most of the day Monday at Halas Hall in a second interview with general manager Phil Emery.
The other two candidates, Baltimore Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, were expected to have their second interviews Tuesday. A final decision is expected by Wednesday.
“He’s a phenomenal offensive mind and a great game day play caller,” Young said of Trestman on the Waddle and Silvy Show on WMVP 1000-AM Tuesday morning. “He’s thoughtful. He’s not going to scream at people, but he’ll get after people.”
Young spent two seasons with Trestman as his offensive coordinator in San Francisco, compiling impressive passer ratings of 92.3 and 97.2. But those were far from Young’s best seasons. In the four previous years and the two subsequent years his passer rating was over 100.0 each season, and he finished with a career mark of 96.8.
Young has been critical of Cutler and his mechanics in the past. But he believes Trestman’s extensive experience as an offensive play caller and quarterbacks coach in the NFL are just what the Bears’ quarterback needs to maximize his potential.
Trestman, who turned 57 Tuesday, was an NFL assistant for 17 years before becoming the Alouette’s head coach. He has tutored Bernie Kosar and Jake Plummer to some of the finest seasons of their careers.
While Cutler has been criticized by some for being resistant to coaching, Young believes Trestman would get through to him where others have failed.
“First you have to have a willing participant,” Young said of Cutler, who has never posted a season passer rating higher than 88.5. “It takes a lot of care, a lot of time, a lot of study and a lot of intricate work. But I’ve got to believe that if someone speaks to him in a resonant way, that he would respond to that. He’s ready for it.
“One thing (Trestman) can do is break down the quarterback and build him back up.”