National Football League

Is Ravens' new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman really a QB whisperer?

Published May. 27, 2015 5:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

When the Ravens named recently deposed Bears head coach Marc Trestman as their offensive coordinator this offseason, most viewed it as a seamless transition from the one-and-done Gary Kubiak.

Coming off his best statistical season under Kubiak's guidance, Joe Flacco could continue to improve his game with the man nicknamed "The Quarterback Whisperer."

Trestman earned the moniker by tutoring the likes of Steve Young, Bernie Kosar, and Rich Gannon, but it also begs the question -- what happened with Jay Cutler in Chicago?

While the Ravens' official website offered this piece on how Flacco and Trestman are off to a picturesque start, this piece from the fine folks over at Baltimore Sports and Life paints a less than stellar portrait of Trestman's short and rocky tenure in the Windy City.

Cutler failed to take the next step under Trestman despite having a ton of talent around him, and was even benched at the end of last season in favor Jimmy Clausen.

"I haven't been able [to coax the best from Cutler] and we haven't been able to do the things that we want to get done," Trestman said back in December via ESPN.com just before he demoted Cutler. "We've seen moments of it, but it’s not where we need to go. It’s not where we need to be."

Veteran kicker Jay Feely only spent four games with the Bears last season, but had seen enough to believe that Trestman lacked in the leadership department.

"I think with Marc Trestman, he was a little awkward when he spoke," Feely told Mad Dog Radio in January per ESPN.com. So, he really didn’t connect with guys. You can have that as a coach if you have a strong locker room. If you don’t have leaders in the locker room, [and] you don’t have a coach who really inspires, then you end up having a losing season."

Obviously with John Harbaugh, the Ravens already have a leader on the sidelines, but Feely doesn't sound like he's speaking of a man who wrote a book called Perseverance: Life Lessons on Leadership and Teamwork.

Some other telling statements, courtesy of CSN Chicago:

Trestman would often revert to his pass-happy ways even after talk of being more balanced throughout the week. In one instance from last season, Trestman called 21 pass plays and just six runs in the first half as Bears fell behind 10-0 to the lowly Buccaneers. Chicago did come back to win 21-13 thanks to three Tampa Bay turnovers in the second half.

In 2013 against Minnesota, Trestman settled for a 47-yard field goal on second down in overtime despite the fact that his offense had just picked up two first downs on four consecutive runs by Matt Forte. The kick was missed, and the Vikings won the game on the ensuing possession. Some Bears players took it as their coach not having confidence in them.

You can find more interesting tidbits in the piece at Baltimore Sports and Life, but at least Ravens fans may now have a clearer understanding of why things didn't work out for Trestman in Chicago.

Of course, with Harbaugh leading the way, Trestman doesn't have to worry so much about being a leader. He can just focus on getting back to his quarterback whispering ways.

h/t: Baltimore Sports and Life