Marc Trestman must be one hell of a salesman. He somehow managed to convince the Chicago Bears that he was a better head coaching option in 2013 than Bruce Arians. Something that the franchise is still haunted by to this day. After his two-year debacle, it was felt there was no way he’d ever get to run his own team in the U.S. again. That is until the XFL rose from the ashes after 19 years like a phoenix.
Just like that, the old coach returned from Canada once again to take control of the upstart Tampa Bay Vipers. Ironically in the same town where Arians is currently coaching the Buccaneers. Suffice to say, the results through two weeks have been ugly. Not only has Trestman’s team lost both of their games thus far, but his offense has failed to score a touchdown in eight quarters of action.
Danny Jones, an XFL beat writer and host of the “Other League” podcast caught up with Vipers players and asked them about the situation in the locker room. It would seem frustration is already mounting, and most of it is directed squarely at Trestman.
Marc Trestman may not finish the season at this rate
Clearly the coach is already under the gun, which is remarkable given he’s basically on an expansion team. Yet it seems players can already see that he doesn’t have what it takes to communicate. A problem that haunted him in Chicago as well. Players in the U.S. are significantly different from what he had to deal with in Canada. His laid back, math teacher delivery won’t get the message across with these guys.
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It would not be a shock if the Vipers make a change at that job before the end of the season. Jerry Glanville is currently their defensive coordinator and he has a long, proven legacy as a head coach going back to stints in Houston and Atlanta for the NFL. Even at his advanced age, players might see his more personable approach as far better to what they’re getting now.
