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Bears Wed Oct 01 2014

Bears Battling Inconsistency Where They Shouldn't Be

Chicago BearsIn the second season of the Marc Trestman era, we expected the offense to make a leap forward. The second-highest scoring team in the NFL from last year finally had an offensive genius that would be with the team for consecutive seasons, and all 11 starters were returning. But the growth is nowhere to be found four weeks into 2014.

Brandon Marshall hasn't talked to the media after his victim blaming, 40-plus minute tirade took place a few weeks back. Since then, he's been nearly invisible against the Jets and Packers, and was the reason why the second interception happened last Sunday. Trestman backtracked on Monday saying there was miscommunication between Jay Cutler and Marshall, but that's an even worse problem than just Marshall going rogue. These guys have played together seven years, and in the second year of having the same offensive coordinator, shouldn't be making these silly mistakes.

Sure, Josh Morgan could've run a sharper route, but Cutler can't make the throw he did on the first interception against the Packers. He can't make the throw against Buffalo back across his body to the middle of the field that got picked off by a defensive linemen. Interceptions are going to happen -- those two shouldn't have for this quarterback in this system.

On special teams, where the kick returning job was always thought to be Chris Williams' throughout the offseason, has been so awful with the first four guys that have tried it, that the coaching staff has thrown its hands in the air and finally given the job back to Williams. Unless he was still recovering from his injury (which is unlikely because he would've been cut originally with an injury settlement), it's completely insane that it's taken five weeks to get back around to trying him out there.

The defensive line, almost entirely rebuilt after getting demolished in both run stuffing and pass rushing a year ago, was supposed to be vastly improved. Willie Young, Jared Allen, and Lamarr Houston were all paid substantial amounts of money to infuse the unit with immediate talent, but none of them have been impactful in every game. They've each had their moments, but when asked to get home with minimal blitzing against Aaron Rodgers, Allen was the only one that close -- by sitting at home.

Coaching lapses by a smart, cerebral leader shouldn't happen either. A challenge flag on a play that is automatically reviewed? That's a Detroit Lions mistake. Not reminding your quarterback at the end of the first half that the ball should be thrown either in the end zone or out of bounds to secure points? That's head scratching.

The Bears are 2-2 with four of their next five games away from the terrible turf that makes up Soldier Field. If they don't get cleaner play from the highest paid players on the team, it'll be another lost season for a team many thought would be Super Bowl contenders coming into the season.

 
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