4 DOWNS WITH DITKA

Under Trestman, Bears are concentrating more on what they have to do rather than on their opponents

1 Marc Trestman seemingly has been able to get out of Jay Cutler in a few months what several coaches before him have not over several seasons. What’s the difference here?

Well, Marc is a great teacher. What he’s done is teach Jay the things that will make him successful. The biggest thing is don’t turn the ball over. Take a sack if you have to, but don’t turn it over. He’s been able to ingrain it in Jay that turnovers will kill you. And it seems Jay is believing in much of what Marc is telling him. Marc has also based his passing game on timing. The ball has to get out on time. You can’t hold it. Jay has done a great job of getting rid of the ball this year.

2 The Bears are going to have their hands full with Ndamukong Suh on Sunday. Is there a player you either played with or coached who reminds you of Suh?

No, I never had a player like that. He’s a good player, but I’ll say this: What goes around, comes around. Those tactics will come back to bite him one day. There’s no place in football for that. You know, Detroit is a good team and Jim Schwartz is a good coach, but they always seem to find a way to self-implode with stupid penalties or plays.

3 Have you ever seen a quarterback have a year like Peyton Manning is having?

You know, you hate to use the word ‘‘greatest,’’ but not many quarterbacks have done what he’s done for so long. And I don’t think I have ever seen a quarterback as good as he’s been so far this year. He has made all the receivers in Denver better. I watched him the other night, and he was getting the ball out in 1.8, 1.9 seconds. He’s in sync with his receivers, and his timing is perfect. I’ve never seen anything like it.

4 Did you give 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh any acting tips for his hilarious commercial where he’s coaching youth football?

No, no. Jim has that down. That’s all him. It was nice to see him get a big win [Thursday]. They needed that.

You were very critical of the 49ers for playing linebacker Aldon Smith last week after he was arrested for suspicion of DUI. Why?

Well, it doesn’t do anyone any good. It sends the wrong message to your team, and it doesn’t help the player. This isn’t the first time he was in trouble. He should not have been on the field, and I said this before the game. He’s going to rehab, and hopefully he’ll get better. He is of no value to anyone until he helps himself.