The world of the NFL can sometimes be likened to a storybook quest. Each week, we have the protagonist (our team) going up against an antagonist (our opponent). Like any good story, we want to have a victory ending and name a hero (MVP). But what happens when the alleged bad guy isn’t really on the other team? In the face of defeat, sometimes we must turn inwards and examine our own strengths and weaknesses.
In case of the 2009 Chicago Bears, everybody wants to make our quarterback, Jay Cutler, the bad guy. He’s the new blood, he’s the most prominent position on the field, and he hasn’t had a stellar season. In last night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, he threw five interceptions, amassing a total of five red zone picks this year. To say he has fallen short of expectations would be an understatement.
The Chicago masses are already lighting their torches and calling for crucifixion of Saint Jay Cutler, who just months ago was sent to us from Denver to deliver the haggard Chicago Bears from an offensive plight. After years of believing that the only thing the Bears needed was a good quarterback, we got Jay Cutler! Hallelujah! Cutler came marching into Soldier Field like a knight in a shining number six jersey. He was supposed to be our savior, and instead, he has led our team to humiliating defeat. He is not who we thought he was. Crucify him!
Not so fast.
Jay Cutler is not a bad quarterback. His quarterback rating is 76, which puts him smack in the middle of the league. He averages 260 yards per game and has thrown a respectable 14 touchdown passes this year. Yes, he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns this season, but that doesn’t negate the fact that he consistently puts up yards and moves the ball down the field. That’s more than we got out of, say, Rex Grossman. The bottom line is this: Cutler, at his worst, is still okay.
Jay Cutler may indeed have come to the Chicago Bears in 2009 to show us the way to victory. His arrival this season has shed light on the fact that maybe a lackluster quarterback isn’t the only thorn in the side of our franchise. If we want to be a winning team, we have some serious offensive problems to address, and they span far beyond the scope of somebody knowing how to throw the ball. Like, for example, the fact that we have absolutely no running game, rookie wide receivers, stale play calling, and a weak offensive line. I’m pretty sure if you stuck Tom Brady in the middle of our offensive line-up, his QB rating would start plummeting like the Dow Jones in late 2008.
The lack of running game is a huge problem for the Bears, because it forces Cutler to throw 50 plus passes every week. When you’re putting the ball in the air that often, you’re going to get picked at some point. The same goes for having rookie wide receivers. Devin Hester has a lot of potential, but he’s still learning how to run routes. When he doesn’t follow a route, or slips and falls, Cutler gets picked. The weak offensive line is probably the biggest problem of all, because they aren’t giving Cutler the protection he needs to make plays. Week after week, Cutler has the daylights sacked out of him, and it’s a wonder he is still in one piece at this point in the season.
Obviously, none of these offensive problems eliminate Cutler’s responsibility to exercise better judgment. If I had one criticism of Cutler it would be this: stop trying to force plays in the red zone. If there isn’t an open receiver, just throw the ball out of bounds so we can still kick a field goal. Cutler deserves to shoulder most of the blame for red zone picks.
That being said, in spite of preseason hopes that he might be otherwise, Jay Cutler is only human. There’s only so much you can ask one man to do for an offense. He’s not exactly the storybook hero we were hoping for, but I think Cutler is doing a decent job as a quarterback. We should hold off on carrying him off to the stake—for now.
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Good points. Though the Bears gave up so much for Cutler that I think it’s a little fair for fans to have exponentially higher expectations. (Though maybe not fair for him personally…)
I feel like it doesn’t help that he seems like a naturally cranky dude. Is he still a big fixture in Chicago gossip?
Substitute Cutler with Manning, Archie, that is, and you’ve got the Saints of old. You are right about the red zone; yet, he can’t do it all. Last night, about a few minutes into the second quarter, I thought to myself how that game was an insult to my passion for football. It was atrocious. Kudos to the Ds of both teams, but that ain’t saying a whole hell of a lot.
Peyton Manning threw six picks against the Chargers and no one called for his head. He’s been choked in the playoffs 7 out of 8 times. No one called for his head. Some days are really bad for a QB. jay has one of the worst lines in football ‘guarding’ him. Can’t pass block, can’t run. Throw in the atrocious play-calling of the completely inept Ron Turner and Bubba Gump coaching from Lovie Smith / poor roster thanks to Jerry Angelo and it’s easy to point the finger at Jay. Five interceptions ? Sounds bad. Is bad. But anyone watching the game who understands what they’re looking at knows that three of those picks weren’t on him. Mulligan breaks it down pretty well on Sun-Times (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1886089,CST-SPT-mully16.article). Put it this way, with Kyle Orton, we’d most likely be winless. Cutler is a pro-bowl QB in his fourth year, he can make every throw in the book, he’s very mobile, and he’ll get older … hopefully a little wiser too.
As a long time Bears fan , I was surprised when we took a problem child QB , who somewhat indicated that he was better than John Elway while in Denver. According to the Denver News Paper, the guy would not meet with the owner & coach of the Broncos once it was reported that they had offers for a potential trade . Does he not know that Pro football is a business, and they pay him to play?
Plus he appears to be so aggrogant, and self-serving. Just watch him on the sidelines once he has thrown an interception.
Now here are the facts, Cutler did not come from a winning program in college( VANDERBILT) and I challenge anyone out there to name me a single successful QB who made it in the NFL , and never had a winning season in college football. The fact is , there are 4 other players with the bears who never experienced a winning season of college ball. ( VANDERBILT PLAYERS), therefore ‘ THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO WIN @ THE NEXT LEVEL. When a team is re building a program, the first thing the organization should consider is ” does the player know how to win , and did he come from a winning college program. There are exceptions to this rule , however most of those exceptions will apply to truly gifted players.
The only problem I have is that Lovie Smith might lose his job behind
those guys, who probably should’t be in the NFL.
BEARS CUT YOUR LOSSES, AND GET THEM OUT OF THERE.
mr.Bear
When you see alot of ex-bears offensive players excell after leaving the bears. makes you wonder about the offensive game plan or if we even have one. The offensive for the most part has been petty inapt for years, How long has Ron Turner been there?
there are a variety of problems going on with the bears. First of all we need to accept the fact that our team simply lacks sufficient talent to be considered a legitimate contender. Some of the reason that the Tom Bradys and Peyton Mannings of the worlds have super stats is because their recievers make “great catches”. When was the last time you seen a Bear reciever make a top ten play? I’m not gonna get started talking about our offensive line. Why isn’t Hester returning kickoffs anymore? Our we even capable of ‘coaching up’ a player? I can defend a two yard passing route. Even i know our next play; half back dive!
why are we talking about Peyton Manning, and Jay C in the same sentence? Why even mention his dad? Today we are talking the QB situation in Chicago. The fact remains that we are having poor play at the QB position. The Colts are 10-0 , what are you talking about, and the QB play is fine.
Last night, I saw 2 passes that Manning would have connected on.
Our guy missed on both , especially the one to D. Hester.
Do I see another Ryan Leaf in the making ?????????????????