LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Martellus Bennett has a theory why the Bears’ coaching staff is successful reaching players.

“When you say good [expletive] people listen,” Bennett said.

Martellus Bennett says Bears coaches have been more direct about their expectations this season. Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Last season communication reached an all-time low. After the Bears plummeted to 5-11, ownership made sweeping changes throughout the organization.

Although the Bears began the year with three straight losses, the feeling around the facility is different. Bennett attributes the difference in mood to the coaches’ straightforward approach.

“You know when someone is BS-ing you or whatever or just sugar-coating things,” Bennett said. “When coaches are direct, they're straight to the point, they tell you what they want, what they want to see, you know how to go out there and perform. Like, ‘this is what we expect’, and ‘this is what we expect from all of you on this play.’

“Guys just respond to that because you give them clear direction to what they want to do. It's not like a bunch of fluffiness. You don't have to put sprinkles on a cupcake.”

Bennett said this higher level of accountability has led to players policing themselves.

“At that point a lot of that is on the players too,” Bennett said. “We look at each other in the huddle, we're like, 'hey, we know who we've got. We know where we are.' In some situations, coaches they can do and say what they want to but it comes down to the players. In the huddle a bunch of guys just look each other in the face and 'hey we can make some plays, let's go out here, and we're still in it, we haven't played as well as we wanted to in the first half, let's just keep pushing and keep fighting for each other.'”

In contrast to last year when the Bears often unraveled in tight situations, the club kept its poise in recent come-from-behind wins over Oakland and Kansas City.

“No one ever looked at this guy or that guy and pointed at anyone,” Bennett said. “It was just like, hey, let's keep playing and we'll look at the scoreboard at the end and I think that's what's been contributing to the last two wins the last two weeks.”